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Paula Badosa's aspirations in Bad Homburg came to an unexpected halt. After showcasing promising form in her first two matches, the Catalan tennis star faced a bitter end on Thursday, falling to Russia's Diana Shnaider in the quarterfinals with scores of 6-3, 7-6(3). The match was notably disrupted by rain for over an hour at the end of the first set.

A Promising Start Turns Sour

Badosa, a former world No. 2, began the match with confidence but struggled with her serve, a weakness that Shnaider capitalized on to clinch the first set 6-3. The rain delay did little to shift the momentum in Badosa's favor.

The Struggle Continues

Upon resumption, Badosa found herself quickly down 3-0 after losing her serve again. Despite a spirited comeback to level the set and force a tiebreak, her inconsistency proved costly.

"It meant a lot to reach the quarterfinals again," Badosa reflected, acknowledging her return to this stage for the first time since Rome in 2023.

A Step Forward Despite the Loss

This tournament marked Badosa's first since Roland Garros and confirmed her re-entry into the top 100 rankings, a crucial milestone given her limited opportunities with a protected ranking due to injury. An invitation from the event organizers provided a much-needed boost to her career trajectory.

Looking Ahead to Wimbledon

With her sights now set on Wimbledon, Badosa is poised for the next challenge. The draw, set to take place in London this Friday, will determine her path in the prestigious tournament.

Editor: Emiliia Morozova