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Paula Badosa made a winning start to her Hamburg campaign after defeating Katarzyna Kawa 7-5 6-4 in the first round.
Due to rain, the Spanish tennis player's Iasi final against Mayar Sherif was postponed until Monday. And once they got on the court, the former world No. 2 - who won Bastad a week earlier - took multiple medical timeouts.
After Sherif opened a 6-4 4-0 lead, Badosa retired from the Iasi final.
At that point, it didn't look like the 2025 Australian Open semifinalist would be able to compete in Hamburg this week.
However, Badosa made her way to Hamburg and, on Wednesday, launched her campaign with a win over Kawa.
How Badosa defeated Kawa
Badosa struggled early on and faced break points in four different service games. But the former world No. 2 managed to avoid going down a break after saving a total of nine break points.
Serving to stay in the first set at 5-6, Kawa faced break points for the first time in the match - which also served as set points - and lost the opener.
Although the momentum was on Badosa's side at that point, she made a slow start to the second set as Kawa opened a 4-2 lead. However, the Spanish tennis star didn't panic, winning the next four games to erase the deficit and complete a straight-set victory.
Now, in the Hamburg round-of-16, the Spaniard will face Panna Udvardy.
Badosa said she was dealing with an illness during the Iasi final
After retiring from the Iasi final, the 28-year-old took to Instagram to reassure her fans that she wasn't injured but was dealing with an illness.
"Unfortunate for my illness today but still a good week. Thank you Iasi, it was a fun week. One more push next week in Hamburg. Thanks to all my fans for your support, means the world, love you," the 28-year-old wrote in a message posted on her Instagram Story after retiring from the Iasi final.
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