STUTTGART, Germany (AP) — Paula Badosa battled past Diana Shnaider 6-3, 6-4 to set up a match with friend and world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka at the Porsche Grand Prix on Monday.
Shnaider fended off four match points before former No 2 Badosa took her fifth opportunity at the clay-court tournament.
Badosa’s 10 double faults allowed Shnaider eight break point opportunities. The 20-year-old Russian was unable to take any of them on the center court in Stuttgart.
Sabalenka has finished runner-up on her last three appearances in Stuttgart, losing the final to former No1 Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and current No 1 Iga Świątek in 2022 and 2023.
Sachia Vickery of the United States defeated Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus 7-6 (2), 7-5 and will next face compatriot Coco Gauff, the world No 3.
Veronika Kudermetova of Russia outlasted Barbora Krejčíková 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 for a second-round meeting with No 4 Elena Rybakina.
Kudermetova was a break down in the deciding set but fought back and took her first match point to prevail after 3 hours, 6 minutes — one of the longest ever matches in Stuttgart.
Gauff, Sabalenka, Świątek and Rybakina all received first-round byes. Eight of the top 10 women are at the tournament.
Świątek is bidding to become the first three-time champion in Stuttgart since Maria Sharapova won from 2012-14. The Pole will open against Elise Mertens or Tatjana Maria.
