Sabalenka to face good friend Badosa in Stuttgart opener
STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Paula Badosa battled past Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 to set up a match with friend and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka at the Porsche Grand Prix on Monday.
Shnaider fended off four match points before former No. 2 Badosa took her fifth opportunity at the clay-court tournament.
Badosa’s 10 double faults allowed Shnaider eight break point opportunities. The 20-year-old Russian was unable to take any of them on the center court in Stuttgart.
Sabalenka has finished runner-up on her last three appearances in Stuttgart, losing the final to former No.1 Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and current No.1 Iga Świątek in 2022 and 2023.
Earlier, Sachia Vickery of the United States defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 7-6 (2), 7-5 and will next face compatriot Coco Gauff, the world No. 3.
Gauff, Sabalenka, Świątek and No. 4 Elena Rybakina all received first-round byes. Eight of the top 10 women are at the tournament.