Despite her recent withdrawal from the WTA 500 tournament in Mérida due to back issues, Paula Badosa is set to compete in the Indian Wells tournament. The Catalan player, who won the event in 2021, has been seeded eleventh and will bypass the first round. In the second round, she’ll face the winner of the match between Kamila Rakhimova and local wild card Caroline Dolehide. On the lower half of the draw, which also features top seed Iga Swiatek, Badosa could potentially face Marta Kostyuk (13) and Qinwen Zheng (8) as she navigates the competition.
Badosa’s participation in the tournament is a welcome sight, especially after she was forced to withdraw from the Mérida event. The semifinalist at the recent Australian Open took to social media to share her thoughts, giving fans a glimpse into her mindset ahead of the tournament. With her current form and seeding, Badosa has a great opportunity to climb the rankings at the Tennis Garden. Since she missed the previous edition due to injury, any points she earns will be a bonus, allowing her to build momentum in the rankings.
It’s also worth noting that Paula Badosa is still scheduled to participate in the Eisenhower Cup, an exhibition event taking place this Tuesday at the second stadium in the complex. This will be a great chance for her to get some extra court time and prepare for the main tournament.
The Return of Madison Keys
Another notable player making a comeback is Madison Keys, who hasn’t competed since winning her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne last January. She’ll face the winner of the match between Spanish player Jessica Bouzas and Anastasia Potapova. This will be a crucial test for Keys, who will be looking to regain her form after a lengthy break.
Meanwhile, China’s Qinwen Zheng will be motivated to perform well, not just to regain her spot in the top 10 but also to reunite with her coach, Pere Riba, who has been recovering from hip surgery. Riba had been absent from the tour, and his return will undoubtedly provide a boost to Zheng’s game. With the Indian Wells tournament shaping up to be an exciting event, fans can expect some thrilling matches and potential upsets as the competition gets underway.