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Paula Badosa Looks Ready to Build on Her Summer Revival in Asia Paula Badosa appears to have rediscovered the confidence and consistency that once made her one of the most dangerous players on the WTA Tour. After a difficult period affected by injuries and mental struggles, the Spanish star has begun to turn her season around and is now hoping to carry that momentum through the Asian swing. Her latest statement came in Beijing, where Badosa produced a determined comeback against Daria Kasatkina. The Spaniard eventually prevailed 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 in a demanding first-round battle, surviving a match in which Kasatkina came extremely close to victory. The result was particularly significant because Badosa had already faced Kasatkina at the US Open. That match also required a comeback, with Badosa needing nine match points before finally securing the victory. Her second win over the same opponent in such a short period highlighted the progress she has made mentally. Badosa admitted that the Beijing contest was an emotional and physically demanding battle. She recognised that Kasatkina was beginning to struggle late in the match and realised that it was the moment to take control. The 2026 season has been far from straightforward for the former world No. 2. Her ranking fell as low as No. 142 after a difficult period, while injuries and missed tournaments prevented her from building the consistency she wanted. Things have changed dramatically since the summer. Following her Wimbledon exit, Badosa has won 16 of her 27 matches over roughly the past two and a half months. Her turnaround included a title in Bastad, as well as strong runs in Iasi, Hamburg and Sao Paulo. For Badosa, however, the biggest improvement may not be reflected in the rankings. She has spoken openly about how difficult the year had been mentally and how she struggled to recognise herself on court. Now, she feels that version of herself is returning. Badosa believes she is once again showing the level that belongs among the world's best players, giving her renewed confidence as she enters the final part of the season. The Spaniard also has an important advantage heading into the remaining tournaments. Because she played very little during the closing stages of 2025, she has relatively few ranking points to defend. That gives her an opportunity to climb the rankings significantly if she continues producing strong results. Her plan is to play around four or five more tournaments before the end of the season. The objective is not simply to collect victories, but also to build a solid match rhythm before a full preseason preparation for 2027. Badosa's ranking position has already created difficult draws this season. At the US Open, for example, she faced Coco Gauff in the second round because her ranking had fallen so low. While she described that experience as positive overall, she would clearly prefer to meet players of Gauff's calibre deeper into tournaments. With her confidence returning and her physical condition improving, the Asian swing could become an important stage in Badosa's comeback. Beijing has already provided another encouraging victory, and she now has an opportunity to continue building the version of herself that she believes can once again compete with the very best in women's tennis.