Paula Badosa has endured a torrid time with injury of late, but is fortunately able to continue her season at the Charleston Open.
Badosa has dropped out of the WTA top 100 amid her injury struggles, having been dealing with a back injury that required a round of cortisone injections.
But she has been able to enjoy a busy 2026 season thus far, with Badosa playing 15 matches, from which she has a 7-8 record.
The former WTA number two now turns her focus to the Charleston Open, which helps to kickstart the clay-court swing.
But ahead of her first match against qualifier Kayla Day, the Spaniard shared details about a torn labrum in her right hip.
How would you solve the tennis injury crisis?
Paula Badosa reveals torn labrum ahead of Charleston Open
Badosa revealed in Charleston: “People don’t know.
“A lot of people have been asking me about the back and that’s something I’m trying to figure out but it’s at least under control.
“It’s not that now.
“Last year, starting in February and especially after Wimbledon, it was my psoas touching the tendon.
“But then I broke my labrum.
“It’s all very connected, but it’s tough to compete like this.”
Typifying her difficulties, Badosa ended her 2025 season early, having done the exact same in 2023, withdrawing from the US Open on both occasions.
Now, she enters Charleston on the back of a Miami Open second round loss to American youngster Iva Jovic, having won her opener against Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
Paula Badosa opens up on ‘difficult’ injury struggles
It has certainly been a very difficult time for Badosa, who showed superb promise at the Australian Open just last year.
She stormed all the way to the semifinals, knocking out the likes of Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk before falling to her close friend Aryna Sabalenka.
But injury followed, with Badosa noting: “I was maybe at my best level after Australia.
“Then all of a sudden, I saw myself on the couch again for the second time.
“I didn’t know if I had the strength to fight again because I know what it is to come back from an injury, from zero.
“It’s like a mountain sometimes, and to get back to the level I want to get is difficult.
“For me, it was very tough, seeing myself like that.
“Personally, I’ve been through difficult times and it wasn’t easy because it came all together.”
| Year | Titles | Tournaments |
| 2024 | 1 | Washington DC |
| 2022 | 1 | Sydney |
| 2021 | 2 | Indian Wells, Belgrade |
The four-time WTA champion will now be taking matters one match at a time, beginning with her opener against American rival Day.
Her opponent is one of many Americans competing at the WTA 500 tournament in Charleston, including top seed and defending champion Jessica Pegula.
It is, however, 10th seed Maria Sakkari who awaits the winner of the first round tie between Badosa and Day.
Other seeded players at the event include Ekaterina Alexandrova, Belinda Bencic, Jovic and Madison Keys.
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