Paula Badosa to face bestie Aryna Sabalenka once again in Stuttgart after opening win

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 No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in 2021 and current No.1 Iga Świątek in 2022 and 2023.

Badosa fell to Sabalenka over three sets in the quarterfinals here last year.

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Earlier, 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.

Gauff, Sabalenka, Świątek and No. 4 Elena 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.

Veronika Kudermetova was playing Barbora Krejčíková late Monday for a second-round meeting with Rybakina.