Italian Open 2024: Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa; Preview, Head-to-Head, Prediction

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Paula Badosa has been going through a storm both on and off the court. However, she has stood tall on her feat showcasing why we should always keep moving forward no matter what circumstances we may be in. She has been dealing with injuries and a lack of form over the last few months. The former world number 2 has dropped to number 126 in the world! But she isn’t the one to give up so early. Her previous match against Mirra Andreeva was a perfect example of her returning to her old form.

She defeated the 17-year-old Russian tennis sensation by 6-2,6-3 in the first round of the 2024 Italian Open. Badosa will next face another rising star from Charleston, Emma Navarro in her second-round clash of this prestigious tournament. Both of them are looking forward to making a significant impact on the WTA 1000 event. But there will be only one winner at the end of the match. Who’ll it be?

Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa: Preview

Emma Navarro has already won a title this year. Apart from that, the 22-year-old tennis star has reached two SFs and two QFs in the rest of her tournaments this year. Navarro is entering into this tournament after her QF run at the WTA 125 Catalonia Open in Lleida, Spain. However, she gave a walkover in that match to her opponent Mayar Sherif. So, her last match stands the match against her compatriot Elizabeth Mandlik in the R16 of that tournament. In that match, she emphatically defeated her opponent by 6-4,6-1. Repeating the same dominance against Paula Badosa will be a tough ask for this youngster.

Navarro has hit a total of thirty-six aces this season and committed fifty-eight double faults. She has won 68.9% of her service games and just 40.8% of her return games so far this season. Paula Badosa, on the other hand, has had a patch of good and bad runs this season. She looked at her best in some matches but failed miserably in others.

When everyone was banking on the 17-year-old Russian against the former number 2, she showed the world why a fit Badosa is mightier than a sword in the women’s tour. Badosa his two aces and committed four double faults in that match. Her first serve win percentage was 67% but it dropped a little to 65% on her second serve. She converted five out of eleven breakpoints and won seven of her service games against Andreeva. 

Looking at her numbers this year, Paula Badosa has managed to sneak in sixty-two aces but committed seventy-eight double faults so far. She has won 69.8% of her service games compared to just 30.2% of her return games. Getting back the winning tracks and continuing the momentum will be something the Spaniard must be aiming for at the moment.

Navarro vs Badosa: Head-to-Head

Emma Navarro has never met Paula Badosa in her career so far. This makes this contest more interesting as both the tennis stars will be keen to make their presence felt on a bigger stage. Badosa may be 104 ranks behind Navarro. But her experience of playing on this surface and competing at the bigger stages of the game may give her an added advantage. But is it enough to outclass the in-form Emma Navarro? Navarro has put up a solid performance during the hard court swing. She’ll be now hoping to improve it further on the clay courts.

Prediction: Navarro to win this exciting contest against the experienced Badosa

Emma Navarro has been one of the most consistent performers on the Tour over the last few months. She has a win-loss record of 25-9 this season. However, for Paula Badosa, consistency has been the major cause of worry. She has struggled to win any sort of momentum in the last few tournaments. But her commitment to the sport and her eagerness to get back to her full-fitness levels has been truly commendable. Emma Navarro has never competed in this tournament before, but Paula Badosa reached the QF last year.

Paula Badosa has grown up playing on clay court surfaces and she has even reached the QF of the French Open in 2021. But her recent form will keep her slightly below the American. Navarro will look to bank on her compact style of play and her all-around game to outclass the Spaniard. Her high-tactical acumen may prove to be handy against Badosa. Paula Badosa’s biggest weapons have been her big serves and powerful ground strokes. But is it enough to outclass the grit of the American tennis sensation? Perhaps not!