Czech Linda Fruhvirtova, 16 years old and 279th in the world, continues her dream career at the WTA 1000 in Miami, reaching the 8th final on Sunday, after Victoria Azarenka left the stadium without waiting for the arrival of the kinesiologist she had just called. .
The scene surprised everyone on the podium: after 6-2, 3-0, the Belarusian, obviously very disappointed, said a few words to the referee, who then realized that he wanted to look for a physiotherapist. But along the way, Azarenka took her things and left, recording her defeat and the qualification of her opponent.
A former winner of the tournament in 2009, 2011 and 2016, the 16th player in the world seems to be going through a difficult period. At Indian Wells two weeks ago, she burst into tears during her match against Kazakhstan Elena Rybakina, but ended up losing 6-3, 6-4.
For Fruhvirtova, the sensation of the Florida tournament, the adventure continues. In the next round she will face one of the favorites of the tournament, the Spaniard Paula Badosa (6th), who signed a convincing victory with 6-3, 6-2 over Yulia Putintseva.
Paula Badosa was in the middle of the interview on the pitch after her victory when a thought went through her mind. And given where she is at the moment, her thinking was perfectly reasonable.
“Why do I speak English?” He asked. I think there are a lot more Spaniards here than English. »
A few words in Spanish later, the multicultural crowd still in crucible what Miami screamed with pleasure.
Regardless of the language, Badosa easily won his ticket to the fourth round.
It was Badosa’s best appearance in his career in Miami. Badosa first appeared in Miami (the tournament was then held in Key Biscayne, not far from where she is now) for the first time in 2015 and advanced to the third round when she was 419th in the world.
When he returned in 2016, he was ranked 222nd, then 316th a year later, 130th in 2019 and 71st last year.
But the last 12 months have seen major upheavals in the world rankings, especially for women, and not just because of Ash Barty’s sudden departure last week.
Barty’s name will disappear from the rankings on April 4 and will be replaced at the top by Iga Sviatek.
Depending on how the competition develops, Badosa could move up to second place in the standings, behind Swiatek, when the tournament in Miami is over.
She is now a star by herself, and even got her celebrity grooming and personalized jersey when she went to a Miami Heat race just miles from the tournament venue last week. .
“I am very happy with the performance,” said the Spaniard.
