Badosa Beats Day to Advance in Charleston Open

Paula Badosa advanced to the second round of the Credit One Charleston Open on March 31, 2026, defeating American qualifier Kayla Day 6-4, 6-3 in her opening match, as the former world No. 2 continues to battle persistent injuries and self-doubt on the WTA Tour.

The 28-year-old Spaniard, who received a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 clay-court event due to her current ranking of No. 113, expressed relief after the victory. "Always feels good to come back on clay," Badosa said. "Honestly, I think I played a pretty solid match. She's a very talented player. So I didn't know her much. So I was pretty surprised for her level. And I'm happy that I got the win." She will next face No. 7 seed Maria Sakkari for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Badosa's participation marks her return to a tournament where she reached the semifinals in 2021, but her path has been fraught with challenges. Once a top contender, she rose to prominence with a 2021 Indian Wells title and a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in 2022, fueled by deep runs at major tournaments. However, injuries derailed her momentum starting in 2023, when a stress fracture in her L4 vertebra forced an early end to her season after...