Resurgent Badosa eyes revenge against Gauff at Australian Open

Melbourne: Former world number two Paula Badosa reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time on Sunday and said she was looking for a measure of revenge after booking a clash with American third seed Coco Gauff.

The Spaniard, who slipped out of the top 50 due to a series of injuries before rediscovering top form in the latter half of 2024, came back from 5-2 down in the second set to beat Serbian Olga Danilovic 6-1 7-6(2) on Margaret Court Arena.

"I entered the match with ideas very clear. Very aggressive. I served really well," world number 12 Badosa, who considered quitting the sport last year, told reporters.

"The second set was a little bit tricky because I was 5-2 down, but it wasn't like a real 5-2 because I was playing well. It was like small points there. I changed the momentum and I finished playing great again."

Badosa lost to Gauff in China in October the last time they faced each other and the duo are tied at 3-3 in career head-to-head meetings.

"I respect her a lot. She's a great competitor," Badosa said of the 2023 US Open champion.

"We always have tough matches. The last one was really tough for me, because I was winning in that moment, then the momentum changed in the Beijing semi-finals.

"I hope I can have my revenge here. It's a special match, quarter-finals, centre court, against her.

"I will get ready for that battle again."

Badosa said being an elite athlete did not mean she did not get nervous. In fact, she said there would be something wrong if she did not feel a bit edgy.

"I play nervous. If the nerves are not there, it means I wouldn't care," she added.

"I think what helps me is to move a lot my body, to stay active. Even to speak about it with my team, like I'm feeling like this. Trying to accept that moment.

"Of course, when I'm going into the court, try to be very intense and to think what I have to do in that moment."

While Badosa has sparkled at Melbourne Park her boyfriend, Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, was dumped out of the opening round. She said the men's world number 12 offers advice and tips.

"He inspires me because he's done so much already on the tennis world," she said. "For me, having somebody like him giving me his opinion, it's something that I admire and I love it."