Badosa is making a return to the courts after niggling back problems
This second-round matchup at the Internationaux de Strasbourg will be the fourth clash between the number-three-seeded Paula Badosa and Marie Bouzkova. Both players will look to make the most of this opportunity as they make a final push on clay before the all-important Roland Garros at the end of the month.
Though seeded number three at this event, Badosa is returning to the court after having missed out on both the WTA Masters events on clay, Madrid and Rome, due to a persistent back injury. As a matter of fact, she has been dealing with back problems throughout 2025.
Earlier in the year, she had a terrific run at the Australian Open, making it to the semi-finals after a quarter-final win over Coco Gauff. Unfortunately, though, her form didn’t last, and since February, her back issues have caused her to miss most of the action on court.
On the other hand, Bouzkova hasn’t had a great year thus far, making it as far as the quarters only twice this year. She is coming off losses to Mirra Andreeva and Naomi Osaka in Madrid and Rome in just the round of 64 and round of 32 respectively.
The Czech is coming off an impressive win from the previous round as she dominated Alize Cornet, earning a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Bouzkova went 6 for 6 in break point conversions while allowing her opponent to break only once in 6 attempts.
The Spaniard and the Czech have faced off three times in the past and their current head-to-head stands at 3-0 in favor of Badosa. The pair’s very first meeting was all the way back in 2017 when the number 3 seed won easily in straight sets.
Since then, the duo has clashed twice again. Bados won in 2022 in straight sets again, while their most recent encounter in 2024 went to three sets. Interestingly, the pair have played all their matches on hard courts, and today’s meeting will be their first on clay.
| Year | Event | Round | Winner | Score |
| 2024 | Citi Open – Washington | Final | Paula Badosa | 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 2022 | Miami Open | Second Round | Paula Badosa | 7-5, 7-5 |
| 2017 | Las Vegas – ITF USA 29A | Second Round | Paula Badosa | 6-4, 6-3 |
Here is a quick look at the overall comparison between the two players. While their win-loss records and number of titles are close, Badosa has achieved a much higher ranking.
| Paula Badosa | Category | Marie Bouzkova |
| 10 | Ranking | 50 |
| 373-206 | Career W-L | 367-220 |
| 12-7 | YTD W-L | 11-9 |
| 4 | Career Titles | 1 |
| 0 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 0 | YTD Titles | 0 |
Between the two, Badosa is clearly the better player on paper, but with her recent injury problems hindering her progress this season, Bouzkova could have the edge in this match. Moreover, the pair’s last meeting went to three sets, and although Badosa won, it was a much tougher match.
Prediction: Bouzkova in three sets
Read More: What Surface Is The French Open Played On? Exploring The Rich History Of The Roland Garros Surface
As per the betting odds, the Spaniard is favored quite clearly over her Czech opponent. Based on the skill of play, her 70.7% first serve, and a 74.5% service game win rate, Badosa has the upper hand per the betting odds.
Paula Badosa Win: 11/20
Marie Bouzkova Win: 29/20
(According to BetMGM)
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