Paula Badosa is preparing to contest her fifth WTA Tour-level final.
Badosa, the former world number two, qualified for the Iasi Open final after beating Tamara Zidanšek 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 on Saturday.
The Spanish star will now compete against Egypt’s Mayar Sherif for the Romanian WTA 250 title.
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Badosa is looking to win back-to-back titles on the circuit after lifting the Bastad Open trophy last week.
She is also seeking to prolong her outstanding record in WTA Tour-level finals.
Paula Badosa has never lost a WTA Tour final
Badosa made her first appearance in the final of a WTA Tour-level event at the 2021 Belgrade Open.
Badosa, the fourth seed, defeated Mihaela Buzărnescu and Viktoriya Tomova en route to the final in Serbia.
The Spaniard led qualifier Ana Konjuh 6-2, 2-0 in the final, when the Croat was forced to retire.
The occasion represented Badosa’s 13th victory in 15 on the WTA Tour.
Later that year, Badosa won her biggest Tour title to date.
The youngster captured the WTA 1000 title in Indian Wells, beating the likes of Angelique Kerber, Ons Jabeur, and Victoria Azarenka on her way to lifting the trophy.
“The first thing that I’ve learned this week is that nothing is impossible,” Badosa said afterwards, as per the WTA. “If you fight, if you work, after all these years, you can achieve anything.
“That’s the first message that I see that could happen. And to dream. Sometimes you have tough moments. In my case, I have been through tough moments.
“I never stopped dreaming. That’s what kept me working hard and believing until the last moment.
“I’m very happy what’s happening. I’m a little bit still in shock what happened today because winning a tournament like this, it’s always been a dream.”
Since then, Badosa has won two more WTA titles: the 2022 Sydney Open and 2024 Washington Open.
Injuries have plagued Badosa’s progress since winning the Washington title, resulting in her falling out of the top 100 ranked players earlier this year.
However, the Spaniard appears to have regained some of her best form; and with her excellent record in WTA Tour finals, she should feel particularly assured heading into Sunday’s contest in Romania.
| Tournament | Opponent in final | Score |
| 2021 Belgrade Open | Ana Konjuh | 6-2, 2-0 [RETIRED] |
| 2021 Indian Wells | Victoria Azarenka | 7–6, 2–6, 7–6 |
| 2022 Sydney Open | Barbora Krejcikova | 6–3, 4–6, 7–6 |
| 2024 Washington Open | Marie Bouzkova | 6–1, 4–6, 6–4 |
Paula Badosa’s record vs Mayar Sherif
Badosa and Sherif first contested a match on the professional circuit at the 2013 Lleida Open in Spain.
Sherif dominated the contest – much to the dismay of the crowd – triumphing 6-3, 6-0.
A decade later, the pair played each other for a second time: at the 2023 Charleston Open.
Badosa, seeded 12th, defeated the Egyptian 6-3, 6-1 in the first round.
The Spaniard went on to reach the quarter-finals, before losing to Jessica Pegula.
