You only wish your best for your best friend – but in Paris, Aryna Sabalenka had to hurt the Spaniard Paula Badosa. Badosa is now hoping to play doubles with her friend Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Tournament co-favorite Aryna Sabalenka clearly won the tennis duel with her friend Paula Badosa and moved into the round of 16 at the French Open. The Belarusian won the “Battle of the Besties”, as the organizers had advertised the third-round match, on Saturday with 7:5, 6:1.
After the end of the match after 77 minutes, the two players shared a warm embrace at the net. “It’s always hard to play against your best friend on the tour,” said world number two Sabalenka before the first serve: “I love her so much, she’s a great fighter.”
The Spaniard Badosa was also supposed to play in the mixed doubles with friend Stefanos Tsitsipas later in the day, but her match, like many other doubles matches, was postponed due to persistent rain. Tsitsipas’ doubles appearance with brother Petros also did not take place. The world number ninth from Greece was asked during the tournament why he was putting himself through this extra strain. “It’s all to do with love. Having the opportunity to combine love and tennis is really extraordinary,” answered Tsitsipas, who reached the round of 16 in singles and has made a strong impression so far.
The love comeback of “Tsitsidosa” made a lot of headlines during the French Open. The two tennis stars Tsitsipas and Badosa had separated weeks ago, but then announced shortly before the Grand Slam tournament that they were back together.
Men’s tournament table French Open website Women’s tournament table
Source: Stern
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