Paula Badosa opens up on 'tough' clash with Katie Boulter at the French Open... and reveals why she thinks Roland Garros should be named after her 'idol' Rafael Nadal

After 2 years distant from nan iconic clay courts of Roland Garros, Paula Badosa will person possibly been hoping for a somewhat smoother re-entry than a conflict pinch 26th seed Katie Boulter. 

The Spanish prima will return connected Boulter, Britain's superior dream successful nan women's draw, successful nan first round, successful what will beryllium their first gathering connected tribunal connected Monday. 

Boulter whitethorn not person nan champion grounds connected clay, but comes into nan French Open having picked up a first WTA 500 title astatine San Diego successful March, and has surgery into nan apical 30 for nan first time.

Badosa grew up connected clay and has a terrific grounds successful Paris, but knows she is successful for a 'tough' battle, arsenic she admits astatine a promotional arena for nan merchandise of caller video game Top Spin 2K25. 

'Yeah it's gonna beryllium a reliable match,' Badosa says. 'We cognize each other. We ne'er played. We practised truthful galore times. [She's a] nice, bully woman - I deliberation that's important, but [she is besides a] very reliable one. 

'She had a very bully commencement of nan year. She's been playing besides an full twelvemonth to beryllium a small different than me, but I'm emotion good. I'm emotion motivated for nan match. It's going to beryllium a reliable one, but I for illustration this benignant of battle.'

It has been a reliable play for Badosa, who rocketed to World No 2 successful April 2022 earlier struggling pinch wounded during ample portions of 2023, notably suffering a accent fracture successful her little back.

She was forced to discontinue successful nan 2nd information of past year's Wimbledon tournament, her only quality astatine nan 4 slams of 2023, but has started nan 2024 play well, reaching nan 3rd information successful Melbourne astatine nan Australian Open. 

'I'm looking to travel backmost stronger, measurement by step. I've been emotion bully this past 2 weeks. That's important for me, but it's a process. It's a process because it's not an easy injury. 

'But for nan moment, I'm emotion beautiful good. And nan astir important that I'm excited again, emotionally I'm okay, and I deliberation if that's okay, nan remainder will come.'

Now, classed 140 successful nan WTA standings, Badosa returns to Roland Garros wherever she has a 75 per cent triumph complaint looking to proceed that return to her champion shape connected conditions that she knows suit her game. 

Back successful 2021 nan Spaniard made it to nan 4th finals, her highest ever decorativeness astatine a slam.

'I grew up successful this surface. I for illustration nan conditions present it's beautiful bouncy. Also, I for illustration to play pinch spin, beautiful accelerated astatine nan aforesaid time. 

'I consciousness comfortable here. I for illustration to play here. I for illustration nan courts, nan conditions. So possibly that's a small spot nan reason.'

Badosa's grounds astatine Roland Garros is impressive, but location is nary for whom nan clay courts successful nan French superior person been a happy hunting crushed much truthful than Rafael Nadal. 

The Spanish icon - who galore would reason has nan strongest declare to being nan top to ever prime up a tennis racket - has not ruled retired a return to nan iconic courts adjacent year, but is expected to discontinue later this season.

He isn't called nan King of Clay for nothing. Losing conscionable 3 of his 155 matches astatine Roland Garros, Nadal returns connected Monday against Alexander Zverev successful an highly reliable tie against 1 of nan contenders to spell each nan way. 

His statistic astatine nan French Open unsocial publication for illustration an highly one-sided crippled of Top Trumps. 

On 3 occasions he has gone astatine slightest 4 years unbeaten successful Paris, he has ne'er mislaid a last - nor has he dropped much than a group successful doing truthful - and has nan highest triumph percent of immoderate player, astatine immoderate expansive slam successful history (97.4 per cent).

With a scarcely believable 14 titles to his sanction astatine nan French Open, nan first of those coming astatine 19 connected his first attempt, Badosa believes that Roland Garros possibly ought to beryllium re-named successful honour of its top ever participant.

'Rafa Nadal was a large idol of excavation and nan woman's side, Maria Sharapova also,' Badosa admits. 'These 2 players some inspired maine very overmuch to play nan sport, for sure. 

'I deliberation this tourney has to person his sanction almost, because he won it truthful galore times. And, yeah, it's Roland Garros. For me, it's like, erstwhile I deliberation astir Roland Garros, I deliberation astir Rafa Nadal. 

'I mean, arsenic a Spaniard, arsenic a follower, arsenic a instrumentality of Rafa, I consciousness very sad that possibly this tin beryllium his past twelvemonth playing here. 

'So I mean, not only for me, I deliberation for each of us, he represents tennis and he's been an illustration for truthful galore of us. So of course, it's sad that possibly it's nan past time.'

The early of Spanish tennis is ohio truthful bright, pinch nan likes of Badosa and Carlos Alcaraz picking up nan tremendous torch that Nadal will yet put down for 1 past time.

But for illustration astir of us, Badosa will beryllium hoping that Nadal tin propulsion disconnected 1 past masterful run earlier hanging up his racket - whenever that whitethorn beryllium - and support that occurrence burning for astatine slightest small while longer. 

Badosa was speaking to Mail Sport courtesy of Top Spin 2K25, nan latest instalment of nan celebrated tennis video crippled franchise, which is available HERE.