Paula Badosa reaches semi-finals in Sao Paolo after beating Mary Stoiana
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 1:00 PM
Last updated Sep 19, 2026

Paula Badosa advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA 250 tournament in Sao Paolo after defeating Mary Stoiana 6-4, 6-2. Badosa is the highest-ranked player in the tournament following Leylah Fernandez's withdrawal. Later, she had a memorable meeting with her idol Maria Sharapova, who was present for the match. Badosa expressed her nervousness and excitement at meeting the five-time Grand Slam champion. She will face Nadia Podoroska in the semi-finals, with a victory securing her return to the top 50 rankings.
- •Badosa defeated Stoiana to reach the semi-finals.
- •She met her idol Sharapova after the match.
- •Badosa currently ranks 56th in live rankings.
- •A win against Podoroska would return Badosa to the top 50.
- •The tournament is part of the WTA 250 event cycle.
- 1:00 PMYahoo Sports — Paula Badosa sends message to ‘idol’ Maria Sharapova after meeting her following her latest win in Sao Paolo
"Paula Badosa was left starstruck after meeting her idol Maria Sharapova at the Sao Paolo Open. Badosa is the highest-ranked player in Sao Paolo after...
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