[vc_empty_space height="5px"]
By Giri Nathan
[vc_empty_space height="15px"]Spaniards have continued a centuries-old tradition of conquering the Californian desert. Thursday was a back-to-back-to-back showcase. First up in the afternoon was Paula Badosa. The 24-year-old’s current form and ridiculously fast ascent can both be summed up by these facts: She has yet to lose a set at this tournament, and, as the defending champ, has yet to lose a main-draw match in Indian Wells in her life. She’s now 10–0 here. Life at the top of the WTA is still pretty fresh for Badosa, who started last season as the world No. 70, only to steamroll that clay season, pick up a habit of dispatching top 5 players, and eventually enter the top 5 herself last month. She’s been one of the most consistent performers on tour, and a hypnotic watch as destructive power melds with smooth movement. While clay remains her home, Badosa has found her range on slower hard courts, and her quarterfinal win over Veronika Kudermetova extends her bid to become the first back-to-back Indian Wells winner since Martina Navratilova did it in ’90 and ’91.