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Former world No. 20 Dmitry Tursunov said Paula Badosa can easily become a world No 1, while Iga Swiatek is physically very talented but needs to improve her mental game. Tursunov is spending lots of time on the WTA as he has been working with Anett Kontaveit since August.
Badosa enjoyed a strong end to the 2021 season as she captured her maiden Masters title in Indian Wells and also made the semifinal in her WTA Finals debut. "Iga Swiatek is physically very talented - more powerful than other girls.
But she needs to work on her mental game. Badosa can easily become world No. 1," Tursunov told Vedomosti Sport.
Jill Craybas agrees with Tursunov
Former American tennis player Craybas said she heard some coaches saying Badosa could soon become a world No.
1. "I saw Paula Badosa play in Guadalajara and I was so impressed. I heard quite a few coaches on the tour saying she is definitely going to be No. 1 soon. They think she is definitely going to be a contender for No. 1," Craybas said.
Craybas added: "Who do I fancy for Melbourne? I am going to go with Badosa." Badosa made it clear her goal is to win the Australian Open. "I'm going to try. I am training, giving my one hundred percent because my goal is to reach the latter stage in the big tournaments and at the Grand Slams.
My goal now is to go to Australia and do my best. Win the maximum matches," Badosa said. Badosa won the Indian Wells Masters and admitted she always dreamed of winning big tournaments. "I always dreamed of winning big tournaments and this is one of them.
There were also negative things, like starting the year with COVID and a 21-day confinement, that was very hard. The defeat at Roland Garros was something that hurt me a lot, but you learn from everything," Badosa admitted.