The 27-year-old Spaniard, a former world number two, has had a tumultuous journey over the past two years. Battling a stress fracture in her spine, Badosa missed two Grand Slam tournaments in 2023 and plummeted to 140th in the WTA rankings. However, after a strong finish to 2024, which included a title win at the Washington Open and a US Open quarter-final appearance, Badosa has reemerged as a force to be reckoned with. Her 7-5, 6-4 victory over Gauff further solidified her comeback.
"I'm a bit emotional, as you know, I'm a very emotional person," Badosa said in her post-match interview. "I've been through a lot. I was once one of the best players in the world, but I think now I'm a better player."
Badosa, named the WTA Comeback Player of the Year in 2024, reflected on her journey with gratitude. "A year ago, I was here with my back injury, and I didn't know if I had to retire from this sport. Now I'm playing against the best in the world, and I'm in the semi-finals. It's a dream come true."
Gauff, the third seed and 2023 US Open champion, entered the tournament as one of the most in-form players on tour. She had won the WTA Finals, gone undefeated in the United Cup, and had not dropped a set in eight matches this season. However, Badosa's powerful baseline game and resilience proved too much for the 20-year-old American.
The Spaniard broke Gauff's serve at 6-5 to take the first set and held her nerve in the second, despite both players trading breaks. Gauff struggled with 25 unforced errors and six double faults, and Badosa capitalized on her opponent's inconsistency to serve out the match on her second opportunity.
"Paula was playing great. Maybe some moments in the first set could have gone my way," Gauff admitted after the match. "I'm disappointed but not completely crushed. I feel like I'm on an upward trajectory."
Badosa will now face either Aryna Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, or Russian 27th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semi-finals, marking another chapter in her remarkable comeback story.
