Paula Badosa moved closer to reclaiming her place among the world’s top tennis players by reaching the Bastad 125 final with a commanding win over Yulia Putintseva. The Spanish player needed 96 minutes to win 6-1, 6-2 and was provisionally ranked No. 119, bringing direct entry into the US Open basic draw closer. Badosa’s career-high ranking is No. 2, reached in 2022 before injuries and time away from competition disrupted her progress.
Badosa’s next challenge was Simona Waltert, the fourth seed from Switzerland, then ranked No. 90. Waltert advanced after eliminating Leyre Romero and Kaitlin Quevedo in consecutive rounds, setting up her third straight match against a Spanish opponent. The final was scheduled for July 10, 2026. Badosa went on to win the Bastad title, with Waltert’s score recorded as 5-7, 5-7. The triumph added to a comeback that also included her 2024 Washington title.
Against Putintseva, Badosa broke serve early in both sets and took control with an aggressive approach. She converted break opportunities in the second and fifth games of the opening set, then secured another impressive break at 2-1 in the second. The win improved her head-to-head record against Putintseva to 5-2.
At the time, the US Open entry list was due to close in just over a week, making the ranking movement especially timely. A higher position would improve Badosa’s prospects of direct entry and reduce the chance she would need to play qualifying rounds. The relevant cutoff depends on the ranking used for the tournament’s entry list. She was scheduled to continue on clay at the Iasi event in Romania, where she later reached the final and lost to Katarzyna Kawa. Badosa subsequently competed in the 2026 US Open and appeared at No. 61 in later ranking records.
Badosa’s resurgence comes as Spanish tennis draws attention for its established stars and emerging talents. Her progress in Bastad stands out amid a busy summer sports calendar, which has also seen major TV events adjust programming to compete for audience attention, as highlighted by recent changes to popular shows like Pasapalabra’s new final round during the World Cup. For Badosa, the immediate goal was to return to the top 100 and reestablish herself as a contender at the highest level of the sport.
WTA 125 tournaments give players a route to ranking points and competitive match play outside the tour’s top-tier events. For a former world No. 2 rebuilding after injuries and interrupted seasons, a deep run at this level can support a return to higher-ranked competition. Bastad marked a impressive step in Badosa’s revival, followed by another final in Iasi and a return to the US Open basic draw.
