Paula Badosa Opens Up About Nearly Quitting Tennis Before Recent Success
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Paula Badosa has played excellently in the last few months, including reaching the 2025 Australian Open semifinal. However, the Spaniard almost stepped away from professional tennis a few months before returning to form.
Badosa has endured injury issues in the last few years. In 2023, she missed all tournaments after Wimbledon because of a severe back problem. The world No. 10 returned at the start of 2024, but she had not fully recovered from the injury.
This year's Australian Open semifinalist retired from some matches during her comeback to the WTA Tour and struggled with form and consistency. It was questionable whether Badosa would ever return to her previous level at that stage because her back issue was not fully healing.
In an interview with the WTA, Badosa recalled a low point being her ninth loss in 15 matches against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro at the Madrid Open. The 27-year-old was in a dark place and did not know if she wanted to keep playing.
"Physically and mentally, I was in a very dark place. Being in a very sad moment. I remember not even wanting to go even out of the room."
Despite the pain those results and her back were causing, Badosa willed herself to keep going. The Spaniard decided she would get to the end of the 2024 season before choosing whether to quit tennis.
"Let’s see what happens if I give it 100 percent, Paula, try to get the strength from anywhere to find that power and energy again. Try to finish the year and see how you finish there and from there we can take a decision. Even when you’re in a dark moment. you never stop believing -- and that’s what brought me where I am today."
Things turned for Baodsa when she won the 2024 Citi Open in Washington, an emotional title run after her struggles. She then reached the US Open quarterfinal and China Open semifinal.
Although reaching the China Open semifinal was a great achievement, she suffered a brutal loss from a set and a break up against Coco Gauff. However, Badosa learned from that experience during her triumph against the American in this year's Australian Open quarterfinal.
"That Beijing match against Coco was very painful. The last thing I wanted to do was struggle again mentally. Managing that match the way I did, I had all the emotions going through my mind."
"Getting through that, and the level I did it, I was really proud. I’m really motivated after that. Hopefully, soon I can be in that place again to experience that experience again."
Badosa's excellent results in the second half of last year meant she came close to qualifying for the 2024 WTA Finals. The Citi Open winner hopes to make it to the season-ending tournament if her level remains high.
"It was a little bit painful last year being so close, but of course, I couldn’t ask for more. I started winning matches after six months, started a little bit late. So hopefully, this year, I can react a little bit sooner, and I’m able to go to Riyadh."
"After all my struggles, especially the past years, being back in the Top 10, being back at this level makes me realize that I’m much stronger than I thought."
