Paula Badosa on reaching world No. 3: ‘I think here is where everything started’

Queens of King Street: Top seeds Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa had an iconic hit downtown ahead of the Credit One Charleston Open.

While Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa have played on some of the most iconic tennis courts in the world, the top two seeds at the Credit One Charleston Open had an experience unlike any other on Sunday in the Lowcountry.

The duo had the chance to play on a makeshift tennis court in front of the famed Riviera Theater on Charleston’s historic King Street, while also posing for a series of photos at The Charleston Place hotel.

“It was a great experience,” Badosa said about the photo shoot, which was done as part of promotion for the event. The Charleston Place is serving as the official player hotel for the first time.

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Sabalenka, who took a wild card into the event, is the top seed after world No. 1 Iga Swiatek withdrew. Badosa, meanwhile, moved up in the rankings to No. 3 in the world as of Monday, a career high.

“To be honest I wanted to be No. 2,” the Spaniard said, smiling. She was ranked No. 71 in the world a year ago when she upset then-No. 1 Ashleigh Barty on the way to the semifinals.

“I think here is where everything started” last year, Badosa, 24, said. “It’s been crazy. Very, very fast. My level has [been] going up since then.”