Harry Langer/DeFodi Images

Emma Navarro vs Paula Badosa: WTA Rome – Second round

Former world No. 2 Paula Badosa is continuing her journey at WTA Rome against Emma Navarro in the second round.

Emma Navarro Profile

Emma Navarro is currently 22nd in the WTA rankings, two spots lower than her career high. The American is 25-9 for the season, including 4-2 on clay.

Navarro played in Lleida to start this week and withdrew in the quarterfinals after beating Elizabeth Mandlik and Bernarda Pera in the first two rounds.

The week before, she lost in the third round in Madrid to Beatriz Haddad Maia after defeating Nadia Podorska.

Navarro’s best result this season was the title in Hobart, where she defeated Elise Mertens in the final.

This is her first appearance in Rome.

Paula Badosa Profile

Paula Badosa was No. 2 in the world not that long ago, and currently she is ranked No. 126. The Spaniard is 7-9 for the season and 2-3 on clay.

Badosa is coming off a 6-3, 6-3 win over Mira Andreeva in the opening round of the tournament.

Last week, she lost in the opening round in Madrid against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in three sets.

Her best result of the season was the third round at the Australian Open, where she lost to Amanda Anisimova.

This is her third appearance in Rome, and her best result was the quarterfinal last year.

Head-to-Head

This will be the first match between Emma Navarro and Paula Badosa.

Prediction and Conclusion

Both Navarro and Badosa are not playing their best tennis, but there is no doubt that they are two of the most talented young players on the tour. Badosa was one of the top stories in women’s tennis a couple of years ago, but she has fallen out of the top 100 in the WTA rankings. It is a real question if she can ever get back to where she was, but based on what we saw in the opening round, Badosa looks ready to make a huge step forward. Navarro retired from the last tournament, aiming to prepare better for this one. However, Badosa is the one playing with a chip on her shoulder and will be able to advance to the next round.