But she was once a teen prodigy herself and is now doing justice to her talent after dealing with mental-health issues and working with a series of psychologists. Badosa, born in the United States, is the first Spanish woman to do so.Īt 23, she is older than either Osaka or Andreescu were when they made their breakthroughs at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Norrie, born in South Africa and raised in New Zealand, is the first British player to win the BNP Paribas Open singles title. Norrie, seeded 21st, also won his first top-tier title, defeating Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Sunday. Time will also tell on Cameron Norrie, because Badosa’s unexpected run through a brutal draw that included Coco Gauff and three major singles champions was not the only surprise in Indian Wells. Time will tell on the 27th-ranked Paula Badosa, who won her first top-tier championship on Sunday with a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (2) victory over Victoria Azarenka in a thriller of a final that required three hours and four minutes of effort and resilience with on-court temperatures exceeding 90 degrees. Bianca Andreescu won the title in 2019 and did the same. Open by upsetting Serena Williams in the final. Naomi Osaka won the title in 2018 and then won the U.S. In its usual March dates, the BNP Paribas Open has been a launching pad for major talent in recent years.
