Selekhmeteva stuns former semifinalist Badosa; Spaniard’s ranking set for big collapse

In one of the the biggest shock of the women’s draw so far, Oksana Selekhmeteva produced a clinical performance on Thursday to dismantle world No. 38 Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-4. The victory marks a monumental milestone for the 23-year-old Selekhmeteva, who reached her first-ever Grand Slam third round by taking down the tournament’s 2025 semifinalist in straight sets.

The defeat carries catastrophic consequences for Badosa’s standing on the WTA Tour. Having reached the semifinals in Melbourne last year, the Spaniard was defending 710 ranking points this fortnight.

Her early exit means she will suffer a near-unprecedented slide in the rankings; after starting the week at world No. 38, Badosa is projected to plummet to approximately world No. 64. For a player who was a set away from a major final just twelve months ago, the result marks a brutal return to the lower echelons of the professional circuit.

Fearless Aggression Trumps Experience

Selekhmeteva, currently ranked No. 101, played with a level of poise that belied her lack of experience on the game’s biggest stages. The left-hander consistently outmaneuvered Badosa from the baseline, breaking the Spaniard’s serve twice in each set.

While Badosa attempted to mount a comeback in the late stages of the second set, Selekhmeteva remained “locked in,” serving out the match to secure her first-ever Top 30 victory. Before this week, the Russian had never progressed past the first round of a Grand Slam, but her “suffocating aggression” and brilliant court coverage have now made her one of the most dangerous unseeded players left in the draw.

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