Paula Badosa has endured a truly torrid past few years on the WTA, but her unrelenting spirit remains.
Such an unflinching attitude in the face of unprecedented injury trauma is so impressive, and despite suffering from a persistent back issue for around a year now, nothing seems to get her down.
Her strong support system likely aids her in this regard, with players like Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur two of her closest friends on tour.
The latter has actually just made a joke regarding their recent practice match with one another, fed through the interviewer, which highlights the nature of their relationship.
Who won the training match between Ons Jabeur and Paula Badosa?
Speaking to Tennis Channel after her game, Badosa unsurprisingly cut a cheerful figure after defeating an in-form Mirra Andreeva in comfortable fashion.
She frustrated the teenager throughout and was good value for her 6-2, 6-3 victory.
However, the focus in the post-match chat was not on the result, but instead on how she had prepared for this return to Rome, the place where she felt like her back issues truly began last year.
Injuries have been so hard on the Spaniard, but she reflected on how Jabeur had helped her through these tough times.
But not before the interviewer, Prakash Amritraj, claimed: ‘Jabeur just wanted to know, and these are her words not mine, if the spanking that she gave you on the practice court yesterday helped you do that performance today?’
Badosa laughed before replying: ‘It’s always nice to be next to her. She helps me so much even mentally. She’s always so positive sometimes when maybe I’m struggling a bit. Playing against her also, I learn a lot from her, she’s so talented. It’s nice to share moments with her.’
It’s so good to see Paula Badosa enjoying her tennis again
Although she has endured another year stuttered by various setbacks, it is nice to see Badosa smiling and healthy after scoring an easy win.
After all, even when she has threatened to make progress she always seems to be just around the corner from another disaster.
For example, after a solid comeback in the Australian Open, she was forced to retire from the Thailand Open, the very next tournament.
Then putting in a solid showing in Qatar ruled her out of subsequent appearances in Dubai and Indian Wells, sadly, before she once again had to cut short a match early in Stuttgart.
But a strong run in Rome, or even just a string of matches back-to-back with no complications, will mark a huge success for Badosa at the moment, who just needs to recapture that confidence in her body once again.
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