Premieres are never easy. The first game in a tournament often makes players nervous, especially when it comes to big challenges. And Paula Badosa took them last year at the Mutua Open in Madrid, where she reached the semi-finals and started her big rise. world number 2 presented at Caja Mágica a year later.

Russian Veronika Kudermetova He was a complex competitor to begin with. Catalan had won only one of their four previous matches. He had his second win this Thursday with a 6-3, 6-0 lead.

A badosa It was difficult for him to control the game. Before breaking the service for the first time Kudermertov (4-3) had to record three time-out points, two in Game 3 and one in Game 5. Service was his best weapon to save those difficult moments when he couldn’t control the situation as he wanted.

But after taking a ‘break’, badosa Didn’t offer any more options Kudermertov (World 25) registered his first win in 65 minutes by scoring eight goals in a row against his opponent.

“I didn’t want to disappoint”

“I was nervous at first. It’s hard to log out at home. I didn’t want to disappoint“After the Badosa win, the same Manuel Santana explained in the center court that the match was played under the roof due to the rain falling on Madrid. Conditions made the pitch worse.

In the second round, on Saturday, Badosa will face former world number 1 Romanian. Simona AleppoA few months after the injury, the circuit returns.

in another game of the day Nuria Parrizas He also passed the first round by beating Romania. Surroundings of Sureya With 6-4 and 6-2.