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Former world No. 2 Paula Badosa suffered a defeat in her first tournament back from a back injury as the Spaniard lost to lucky loser Bernarda Pera at the Adelaide International.
Badosa, now ranked at No. 74 in the world, took to the court for the first time since Wimbledon on Monday. After a good start to the match, Badosa's level dropped as 69th-ranked Pera came back from a set down to win 3-6 6-2 6-3 and reach the Adelaide round-of-16.
After saving a break point in the first game of the match, Badosa broke Pera in the following game for a 2-0 lead. However, Badosa's lead was short-lived as Pera broke back instantly in the third game.
However, blowing an early break didn't impact Badosa, who broke Pera again in the sixth game to go 4-2 up. In the eighth game, Badosa missed out on a set point on Pera's serve but routinely served out for the opener in the following game.
Badosa lost to Pera after being up by a set
Pera bounced back at the start of the second set, earning a break in the second game and then saving a break point in the following game to open a 3-0 lead. With Pera leading 4-2 and serving, Badosa had a chance to get the break back but she missed out on a break point. After failing to get the break back and finding herself 2-5 down, Badosa lost her serve again in the eighth game - the game in which she was serving to stay in the second set.
After losing the second set, Badosa saved two break points in the second game before breaking Pera in the third game en route to taking a 3-1 lead in the third set. Just when it seemed that Badosa was gaining momentum, the former world No. 2 suffered a collapse as she went on to lose the next five games and ultimately the match.
Badosa will now turn her focus to the Australian Open, where she didn't play last year due to a thigh injury.