Coco Gauff Warned as WTA Opponent Desires to Exact “Revenge” in Confident Message Ahead of Australian Open Clash
Paula Badosa is making strides in her journey to reclaim her place among the elite on the WTA tour. After dealing with serious injuries that threatened her career and stepping back from top-tier events to recover her form, Badosa was named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year in 2024. Now, the Spanish star has powered through to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where she will face American sensation Coco Gauff. Despite her admiration for Gauff, Badosa is determined to seek “revenge” in their upcoming showdown.
Badosa arrived in Melbourne following a rocky start to the season, with disappointing results in Brisbane and Auckland. However, she’s turned things around at the Australian Open, cruising through her first two rounds against Wang Xinyu and Talia Gibson. In the third round, Badosa overcame a tough three-set battle with Marta Kostyuk, and in the fourth, she dispatched Serbia’s Olga Danilovic in a 6-1, 7-6(2) victory at Margaret Court Arena.
Ahead of her quarterfinal clash with Gauff, Badosa opened up about her mindset in a post-match press conference. While expressing her respect for the American, she made it clear that she’s ready for a fierce battle. “I love Coco. I respect her a lot. She’s a great competitor. We always have tough matches. Last one was tough for me because I was winning in that moment, then the momentum changed. I hope I can have my revenge here.”
“It’s a special match, the quarterfinals on center court, against her. I will get ready for that battle again. She’s full of confidence, but I’m playing well too. I’m ready to face her,” Badosa added. Their head-to-head is tied at 3-3, but Gauff claimed both of their 2024 encounters, each in three-set thrillers. Their most recent meeting was in the semifinals of the China Open, where Gauff triumphed 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 before going on to win the title.
Coco Gauff, too, is eagerly anticipating their quarterfinal clash in Melbourne. The American had to dig deep in her fourth-round match against Belinda Bencic, coming from a set down to win 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena. Despite dropping her first set of the season, Gauff is brimming with confidence as she seeks her first Australian Open title.
In a post-match interview, Gauff acknowledged Badosa’s strong form and the challenges ahead. “Every time I play Paula, it’s a tough matchup. She’s playing some great tennis. Last time we played, I think it went three sets, I’m not sure. But we played end of last year, so I expect this to be another tough match,” Gauff said.
Should Gauff advance past Badosa, she could set up a rematch with World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, whom she faced in last year’s Australian Open semifinals. It remains to be seen if Gauff can rise to the occasion once more and secure her spot in the final four.
