Paula Badosa has issued a defiant response as her continued injury struggles were on show once again at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Badosa fell down the rankings after the Australian Open, where she lost in the first round to Oksana Selekhmeteva.
The Spaniard returned to winning ways in Dubai after winning her first round match, before Badosa was forced to retire with injury against Elina Svitolina.
This is the third time that Badosa has retired in her last 13 singles matches, with the former world number two labelled ‘disrespectful’ by one tennis fan.
Paula Badosa has defiant response to criticism from tennis fan
Following her retirement after losing the first set to Svitolina, one tennis fan called out Badosa on social media.
They wrote, “Paula Badosa is so disrespectful to the game, you just cannot retire/withdraw from every tournament.”
It is not rare for tennis players to receive criticism on social media, but it is rare to see them respond, particularly in the way that Badosa did.
Badosa was clearly not preparing to take this backlash lying down and hit back with a defiant response on X (formerly known as Twitter), while recalling the struggles she has been through.
“You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going,” wrote Badosa. “To wake up everyday not knowing how your body will respond, searching for solutions, and fighting for something you love and give everything even when it’s so difficult.
“Trust me I’m the first one suffering with pain and having endless nightmares to try to find solutions every single day and for me after all stepping on a tennis court, makes worth everything every time. So I’ll keep trying. Because it’s all about trying and that won’t change. I’ll always try one more time.
“I’m doing this for my passion and for myself. And if there’s even a 1% chance to keep going, I’ll take it. That’s just how I see and understand life. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to follow me. And I’m so sorry to inform you I won’t retire so you’ll keep seeing me for a while. Change channel next time.”
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Badosa added, “So for me the only disrespect here is to open this social media and read messages like this. Then we complain if we see players or people suffering and having mental health issues, but after all I’m not surprise with the amount of hate and “experts” we have here.”
However, the 28-year-old wanted to finish on a lighter note, with Badosa thanking those that had been supporting her through a difficult period.
“But anyways I want to thank the people who always supports me no matter what. Thank you for being with me in this journey and sorry for giving you this tough times. Hopefully sun will shine soon.”
What is next for Paula Badosa after retiring in Dubai?
Badosa, who is now set to drop outside the top 80, is actually scheduled to return to the match court just next week.
This will be at the WTA 500 tournament in Merida, Mexico, where defending champion Emma Navarro will be the top seed.
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If Badosa is able to be fit in time for that tournament, she will then head to Indian Wells for the first part of the sunshine double.
Indian Wells is a very important tournament to Badosa, as it is where she won the biggest title of her career in 2021.
However, ongoing injury struggles have meant that Badosa has been forced to miss the tournament for the past two years.
Badosa may now choose not to play in Merida, and instead set her sights fully on returning to the Californian desert, with Indian Wells getting underway on March 4.
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