At the 2025 Internationaux de Strasbourg, Paula Badosa and Elena Rybakina advanced through their opening matches, signaling strong starts in their final preparations for Roland Garros. Badosa, the No. 3 seed and world No. 10, faced Marie Bouzkova in the Round of 16. The match was level at 3-3 when Bouzkova retired due to injury, allowing Badosa to progress to the quarterfinals without expending excessive energy. This was a significant milestone for Badosa, marking her first pain-free match in two months after a chronic back injury sidelined her since March, forcing withdrawals from the Madrid Open and Rome. She expressed relief, stating, “I’m happy to be back after two months. It was tough… I’m still very far from my level but hopefully I can be there soon.” Her previous 3-0 head-to-head record against Bouzkova, including a three-set win in 2024, had favored her, but her limited clay-court play this season made this pain-free return crucial. Badosa now faces either Diane Parry or No. 8 seed Liudmila Samsonova in the quarterfinals.
Elena Rybakina, the No. 4 seed and world No. 12, delivered a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory over Wang Xinyu in 64 minutes, showcasing her clay-court prowess despite recent struggles. Rybakina, who reached the 2020 Strasbourg final, holds a 1-0 head-to-head edge over Wang from a 2019 hard-court match. Her clay season had been lackluster, with early exits in Madrid and Rome, but this win signals a return to form. “I’m a bit tired,” Badosa noted about her own match, but Rybakina’s performance was efficient, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Magda Linette. Both players, among six Top 20 competitors in the WTA 500 event, are leveraging Strasbourg to build momentum for the French Open, with Rybakina’s wildcard entry reflecting her urgency to regain confidence after a 2-2 record in recent WTA 1000 events. The tournament’s star-studded field, including Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro, underscores its importance as a Roland Garros warm-up.
