Ahead of unique title defense, Paula Badosa keeps “stress” at bay in Indian Wells 

FLASHBACK: Tennis Channel Live discusses Paula Badosa's rise and what could be in store for the Spaniard in 2022.

Unlike all of the other defending champions before her, last year’s winner Paula Badosa won’t have the luxury of a year’s worth of experience when she takes the court in Indian Wells on Saturday.

When Badosa lifted the trophy at the rescheduled BNP Paribas Open in October—which moved from its original slot on the calendar due to COVID-19—the 23-year-old from Spain had already been tipped for big things. But her breakthrough run still came as a surprise: ranked No. 27, Badosa stunned the field and defeated Victoria Azarenka in a thrilling 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (2) final.

“It's really fascinating and fun to watch when you're on the sidelines and you see a player really live up to their potential, and a lot of times it starts between the ears,” said Tennis Channel analyst Lindsay Davenport, who called the match between Badosa and Azarenka.

“These players are so good, but once they believe they can be there and once they believe in their game at those big moments, you get a result like you saw with Badosa at Indian Wells.”

The victory propelled Badosa into the Top 5 and eventual WTA Finals debut, and the momentum carried onto the start of the season as she claimed her third career title in Sydney. But even though her confidence level should be at an all-time high, she admitted that she still struggles at times to keep the pressure at bay ahead of her biggest title defense.

“I think if there's a player that comes here and says that she's not stressed then she's lying. So, don't believe her,” Badosa says, smiling wryly during Media Day at Indian Wells. “Of course there's expectations. You're nervous. You're the favorite now, you feel like maybe you have to win as [many] matches as you can.

“And maybe the other players [are] playing better because they don't have anything to lose. So of course it's a different position for me, and everything is new. But it's a challenge, and I will try to get through it and let's see how it goes this year.”

The Spaniard has been refreshingly frank in recalling the ups and downs she overcame in a roller coaster 2021 season, which began with her tough experience in hotel quarantine in Melbourne and run the gamut from parting ways mid-season with her coach Javier Marti, to fighting a shoulder injury and illness in the lead-up to Indian Wells. All the while, Badosa maintained her self-belief to clinch the 1000-level trophy.

“I don't know how to say it, but there's no secrets,” Badosa said. “It's just fight, fight and of course, you have to have talent in tennis. But in my case, I think I have to find that competitive level and not [let] the pressure get into me."

While there’s been plenty of ink spilled about the 21-year American trophy drought in Indian Wells, here’s an even more intriguing stat to think about: only one woman, Martina Navratilova, has ever successfully defended her title at the BNP Paribas Open.

In fact, since Navratilova’s back-to-back wins in 1990-91, only one WTA player has even come close to completing the repeat: Davenport is the only Indian Wells champion who has returned to the final next year, winning the title in 1997 and losing to Martina Hingis in 1998.

Could Badosa’s unique title defense bid be the one who finally breaks this unusual streak?

“I try to trick myself a little bit and say I won it in October so I'm not quite defending it. So then it’s not that much pressure,” Badosa jokes. “But still, I know it's a big title. I just want to play match by match. I want to get my best tennis on court [and] to enjoy competing.”

“I think that was a little bit of the key last year: I really enjoyed every minute on court. I was fighting for every ball until the last one, and that's what made me win so many matches and made me get to world No. 4.”

No. 5 seed Badosa will begin her campaign in the second round against Tereza Martincova, who defeated Heather Watson, 6-2, 6-1.