Aryna Sabalenka has spoken about what she wants for Paula Badosa after her early exit in Madrid.
The two players are close friends on the tour, both having reached the top five in the rankings at different points in their careers.
While Sabalenka remains near the top of the game, Badosa’s form has dipped significantly. She’s now outside the top 100 and still dealing with injuries.
Even with Sabalenka there to support her, Badosa lost again in Madrid—her fourth straight defeat—falling to Julia Grabher for the first time.
Badosa had two set points in the opening frame but couldn’t capitalise, losing it in a tie-break. The second set went her way, but Grabher took control in the decider, closing out the match 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-0.
It marked the first time Badosa has ever lost a set 6-0 in a WTA Tour main draw match.
Sabalenka, who is yet to play her first match as a seed at the event, was asked about Badosa during her pre-tournament media duties.
“We just talked right now, in the locker room, and she knows I’m here for her whenever she needs it,” Sabalenka said. “We’re going to dinner today and we’ll talk a lot more.
“I always try to help her as much as I can, I give her advice, but I also like to give her time. She knows that whenever she asks me for something, I will be there.”
Sabalenka continued: “I hope she returns to the top because I feel that it is where she should be, where she belongs. I always wish her the best.”
Badosa, now outside the top 100, is facing a challenging path to the French Open.
The entry list for Roland Garros was finalised last week, with Badosa sitting at No. 106 in the rankings.
This puts her five spots short of direct entry into the main draw, meaning she may need to rely on withdrawals or go through qualifying.
If there aren’t enough withdrawals, Badosa will have to play Slam qualifiers for the first time since 2019.
Her next event is scheduled to be the Italian Open, where she will also need to navigate qualifying rounds to reach the main draw.
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