On a sun-drenched afternoon at the 2025 French Open, Court Philippe-Chatrier buzzed with anticipation as Paula Badosa, the Spanish 10th seed, faced off against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a thrilling first-round clash. The match, a rollercoaster of momentum swings and breathtaking rallies, ended with Badosa staging a remarkable comeback to oust Osaka 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4 in two hours and 21 minutes. Drawing inspiration from a bronze plaque bearing Rafael Nadal’s footprint—a tribute unveiled by Roland Garros to honor the 14-time champion—Badosa channeled her compatriot’s legendary fighting spirit to turn the tide after a shaky start, delivering a performance that echoed the tenacity of her idol.
The match began with Osaka showcasing her signature power, her blistering serves and groundstrokes putting Badosa on the defensive. The Japanese star, ranked No. 49 but riding a wave of momentum after a clay-court title in Saint-Malo earlier in 2025, dominated the first-set tiebreak, firing 17 winners and four aces to claim it 7-1. Badosa, who had played only two clay matches since March due to a lingering back injury, appeared rattled, her 16 unforced errors betraying early nerves. Yet, as she faced a 7-6 deficit, Badosa’s gaze fell on Nadal’s footprint near the court entrance. “I have to say that when I was 7-6 down, the first thing I did was to look over there,” she said, pointing to the plaque. “To get inspiration from Rafa. I’m like, ‘Come on Paula, you have to fight like he was.’ Thanks Rafa. We really miss you.” This moment of reflection ignited a fire in Badosa, who transformed her game in the subsequent sets.
In the second set, Badosa found her rhythm, her defensive prowess and precise counterpunching overwhelming Osaka. She won the first five games, dropping just one game in a 6-1 rout, her eight winners and four unforced errors a stark contrast to her earlier struggles. Osaka, hampered by blisters on her hands—a recurring issue on clay that required a medical timeout and nail-trimming break—struggled to maintain her earlier intensity. “Since Rome, I have had blisters on my hands. I think it’s from the friction of clay, because I don’t have blisters on any other surface,” Osaka later explained, her frustration evident as she battled both her opponent and physical discomfort.
The third set was a gritty affair, with both players trading breaks early. Osaka surged to a 2-0 lead, but Badosa’s resilience shone through. At 4-3, she fought through a grueling 14-point service game, saving a break point to hold, her forehand winners and steely defense forcing Osaka into errors. Badosa broke in the seventh game and sealed the match with an ace and a love hold, her 27 winners and reduced 12 unforced errors in the final two sets underscoring her growing confidence. “Honestly, it’s not fair to play her first round,” Badosa admitted, reflecting on the blockbuster matchup. “She’s a player I respect a lot, what she did on and off court. I love her tennis. But I’m really happy with the level, especially coming from an injury.”
Badosa’s victory was a testament to her remarkable comeback story. Sidelined for much of 2023 by a back stress fracture, she roared back in 2024, reaching the Wimbledon fourth round and US Open quarterfinals, earning the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award. Her 2025 season began with a career-best Australian Open semifinal, though injuries limited her clay preparation. Facing Osaka, a former world No. 1 with a 17-6 record and 128 aces in 2025, was a daunting task, yet Badosa’s clay-court pedigree and mental fortitude prevailed.
Osaka, emotional in her post-match press conference, expressed disappointment but resilience. “As time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better. I hate disappointing people,” she said, her voice breaking as she reflected on her journey since returning from maternity leave in 2023. Despite the loss, her performance—marked by 35 winners—hinted at a resurgence, though clay remains her toughest surface.
Badosa’s triumph, celebrated with an embrace from her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas, who also won his first-round match, sets her up to face either Elena-Gabriela Ruse or McCartney Kessler next. As she continues her Roland Garros campaign, the spirit of Nadal—embodied in that bronze footprint—remains her guiding light, a reminder of the grit and heart that define champions on the Parisian clay.
# Badosa’s Nadal-Inspired Comeback at French Open 2025
## A Thrilling First-Round Battle
On May 26, 2025, Paula Badosa faced Naomi Osaka on Court Philippe-Chatrier in a gripping first-round match at the French Open. The Spaniard, down 6-7(1) after a tiebreak dominated by Osaka’s 17 winners and four aces, staged a comeback to win 6-7(1), 6-1, 6-4 in 2 hours and 21 minutes.
## Nadal’s Footprint Fuels Resilience
Trailing after the first set, Badosa drew inspiration from a bronze plaque of Rafael Nadal’s footprint, unveiled to honor the 14-time champion:
> “I have to say that when I was 7-6 down, the first thing I did was to look over there,” she said, pointing to the plaque. “To get inspiration from Rafa. I’m like, ‘Come on Paula, you have to fight like he was.’ Thanks Rafa. We really miss you.”
## Match Dynamics
– **Second Set Turnaround**: Badosa dominated 6-1, winning the first five games with eight winners and just four unforced errors, capitalizing on Osaka’s struggles with hand blisters.
– **Third Set Grit**: After Osaka took a 2-0 lead, Badosa leveled the score, broke in the seventh game, and held a 14-point service game to lead 4-3. She sealed the match with an ace and a love hold.
– **Stats**: Badosa hit 27 winners to Osaka’s 35 but was more consistent, with only 12 unforced errors in the final two sets compared to Osaka’s 32.
## Osaka’s Challenges
Osaka, hampered by blisters, took a medical timeout and trimmed her nails between sets. She reflected:
> “Since Rome, I have had blisters on my hands. I think it’s from the friction of clay, because I don’t have blisters on any other surface.”
Post-match, she expressed emotional disappointment:
> “As time goes on, I feel like I should be doing better. I hate disappointing people.”
## Badosa’s Comeback Journey
– **Injury Recovery**: Limited to two clay matches in 2025 due to a back injury, Badosa’s win showcased her resilience, echoing her 2024 WTA Comeback Player of the Year award.
– **Respect for Osaka**: Badosa acknowledged the tough draw:
> “Honestly, it’s not fair to play her first round. She’s a player I respect a lot, what she did on and off court. I love her tennis. But I’m really happy with the level, especially coming from an injury.”
## Looking Ahead
Badosa’s victory, celebrated with boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas, sets her up for a second-round match against Ruse or Kessler. Her Nadal-inspired tenacity signals a deep run may be possible, keeping Spain’s clay-court legacy alive.
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