Paula Badosa didn’t directly mention Irina Khromacheva in an X post but she definitely looked like she was responding to the doubles specialist harshly slamming her and Karolina Muchova.
In case you missed it, the 29-year-old Russian absolutely unloaded on the Spaniard and her Czech partner over what she felt was a very “disrespectful” move.
In Beijing, Badosa and Muchova debuted as a pair by beating Khromacheva and Anna Danilina 6-3 6-2. But then, they gave a walkover to Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova. The official reason listed for the withdrawal was the Czech’s wrist injury.
However, both the Spaniard and Muchova continued their runs in the China Open singles event.
“Bravo WTA. We lost to singles players in doubles in Beijing tournament… And second round they are pulling out cause they don’t care about doubles… but they continue to play singles this week… Completely crazy by taking place of teams who could enter and participate fully… I had this situation twice this year that when they won first round they pulling out… Without respect to doubles players… And also for people who are signing on-site trying to get in… Very nice rule. Plus tournament losing one match on the schedule… Respect in WTA tour, no didn’t hear it exists… Crazy,” tKhromacheva wrote on her Instagram Story.
Badosa seemingly fires back at Khromacheva
After not playing for 10 months, Muchova launched her post-wrist surgery comeback in June. But while she hasn’t had any major setbacks since returning, it is possible that she still experiences discomfort on certain days and that she felt playing both singles and doubles in Beijing was too much.
“People judge without fully understanding anything. It’s brutal (laughing emoji),” the Spanish tennis star wrote on X.
Ups, si no fue por Paula 😘 pic.twitter.com/Hi6rXKKRKJ
— Ana FS (@AnaRNP) October 1, 2024
Meanwhile, Badosa is set to meet Zhang Shuai in the China Open quarterfinal while Muchova is due to face Aryna Sabalenka.
