Paula Badosa scores Bad Bunny tickets after social media plea, talks Day 1 fandom in Charleston

CHARLESTON—Conejos, rejoice: Paula Badosa has procured tickets to Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour—courtesy of the man himself.

After easing past American Kayla Day in straight sets, the former world No. 2 updated the media on her interactions with the global superstar at the Credit One Charleston Open on Tuesday. Badosa had initially reached out to Bad Bunny ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships last months after discovering tickets to his tour had been sold out.

Badosa also confirmed her on-court celebration was indeed inspired by a Bad Bunny song:

Q. A few weeks ago you recorded a message for Bad Bunny in English and Spanish, so I’m curious if you’ve heard back from his team?

PAULA BADOSA: I have to say, I have tickets for his concert now, so yes!

Q. You’ve talked about being one of the first on the Bad Bunny bandwagon. Do you remember hearing his music for the first time, and how his lyrics inspire or motivate you?

PAULA BADOSA: Honestly, I’m a bit jealous because now everyone is a Bad Bunny fan, but they’re not real ones! I was the real one in 2018-2019 when he started. I remember telling people at the time how I love him and he’s my favorite artist, and they were like, “Who?” I would tell them, “You’ll see,” and sure enough now everyone is a fan.

I listen to Bad Bunny all day, before the match. Today you saw my celebration and it was because of one of his songs I’ve been listening to with the team. It’s an inside joke but it’s related to Bad Bunny. It’s really cool and gives me good vibes. Before a match, it’s really important to get into that zone and that mood. I think his music is perfect for that.

The Spaniard is in the midst of a comeback from a torn labrum in her right hip, having previously suffered a chronic back injury in 2022.

“Some days I wake up and I’m like, ‘Wow, I have to compete today? How am I going to do it?’ There’s so many things in my brain sometimes that I’m not even thinking about the match. It’s stressful for me.”

Now relatively pain-free and into the second round in Charleston, the 2021 semifinalist will next face No. 10 seed Maria Sakkari.