Paula Badosa, the 26-year-old Spanish tennis sensation, has faced her fair share of challenges throughout her career. From mental health struggles to unexpected injuries, she has navigated a rollercoaster ride in the world of professional tennis. Recently, Badosa opened up about her journey during an intimate conversation with Courtney Nguyen on the WTA Insider Podcast.
The Ongoing Battle with Injury
Badosa’s back injury has been a constant companion, casting a shadow over her promising career. Last year, she suffered a stress fracture that left her in excruciating pain. Despite her determination, the road to recovery has been anything but straightforward. In March, after reviewing her scans, doctors delivered a sobering message: “Continuing your career would be complicated.”
In the face of adversity, Badosa draws strength from her unwavering love for tennis. “I always had this goal to be one of the best in the world and to win tournaments,” she shared. Her passion fuels her daily fight to overcome physical and mental obstacles. “For me, being able to play three or four more years would be amazing,” she revealed during the podcast.
The Tough Decision
However, the stress fracture in her back forced her to reevaluate her future. “In Indian Wells, the doctors told me it would be very complicated to continue my career,” Badosa recounted. Their solution? Regular cortisone shots to manage the pain. But for a 26-year-old athlete, the prospect of relying on injections for years was daunting. “The pain is always there,” she admitted, “but there were times I couldn’t even handle it.”
Paula Badosa revealed to Courtney Nguyen on the WTA Insider Podcast that during Indian Wells, doctors told her that continuing her career would be very complicated
She was given cortisone shots & told she may need to keep receiving them if she wants to play for a few more years pic.twitter.com/335s2yxwAh
— Melanie Lautrup (@melanie_lautrup) April 22, 2024
Paula Badosa in 2024
Currently ranked no.101, the Spaniard played her last match on the 17th of April when she had to retire when playing against world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the 2nd round and the scoreline was 7-6(4) 4-6 3-3 .
At the moment, during this season Paula owns a compiled 6-8 match record.
