Paula Badosa has to be one of the unluckiest players on the women’s tour.
After all, having once flirted with the apex of the WTA rankings not that long ago, now it feels like it is lucky to see her simply finish a match.
Her injury woes have been well-documented, as have the mental struggles they have provoked.
However, this latest interview is perhaps the most revealing, where she truly considers retirement as one of the only viable options left.
What’s the latest on Paula Badosa’s injury?
Speaking to WTA Tennis’ Insider podcast, the Spaniard was upfront about her injury woes, the latest of which saw her bow out mid-way through her Stuttgart Open clash with Aryna Sabalenka.
Forced to meet her close friend at the net, she was comforted as she erupted into floods of tears, likely knowing that another injury lay-off awaits her.
Such truly abysmal luck has plagued her for years now, and as she notes, has even made her consider retirement.
She claimed: ‘I think what’s making me fight every day is the love that I have for this sport. I always had this goal to be one of the best in the world and to win tournaments and face the big players. That’s why I’m here.
‘For me, being able to play three or four more years would be amazing.
‘I’ve lived through so many experiences, also mental things. Now an injury that I was never expecting, to have an injury for this long. Then being on the top, now again low, trying to come back. It’s intense.’
We are yet to hear anything concrete about the severity of this leg injury.
Paula Badosa has been desperately unlucky
2024 was expected, or rather many hoped it would be the year that saw Badosa finally put her injury woes behind her.
After all, last year was completely ravaged by various fitness issues, forcing her to miss all four of the Grand Slams.
And now, already she has been ruled out of a slew of other tournaments too, having failed to even play a single match in the Abu Dhabi Open and Indian Wells whilst also pulling out mid-game from the Hua Hin Championships, the Dubai Open and now in Stuttgart.
There seems to be no end in sight for Badosa, who was once ranked number two in the world.
Hopefully, if she does persist with these additional three or four years, they can be ones free from pain and injury, allowing her to at least enjoy her tennis a little bit before she calls time on an impressive but scuppered career.
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