After missing months of action, Paula Badosa will seemingly return this year as the Spaniard is part of the Spanish Billie Jean King Cup.
Paula Badosa has played some really solid tennis this year, but the problem is that she rarely played. She managed only 27 matches, with her latest ones coming at Wimbledon, where she played fairly well.
She won her opening round match but retired in her second round match due to the back injury that has plagued her for much of this year. She worked hard and tried to come back in time for the US Open but ultimately abandoned plans to do so, admitting to being frustrated because of the way her season unfolded.
She didn't name a comeback date but remained hopeful that it would happen as soon as possible, and that we might have a date. The official confirmation arrived today after some speculation.
Badosa was named as part of the Spanish team for the competition alongside Cristina Bucsa, Rebeka Masarova, Sara Sorribes Tormo, and Marina Bassols Ribera. It's a pretty solid team, especially if Badosa does play.
We don't know if she will go through with it. Being named as part of the team simply means that she will be there. There is no indication that she would actually take to the courts.
It would provide a major boost to her country's aspiration at the event though. It would also be a good way for her to determine her fitness, as the new season would start just a month later.
Coming off of a long injury hiatus is always challenging, and getting in some matches before the next season could benefit her in the long run. Time will tell whether she returns even sooner, but for now, that's the only event she's likely to have.