Paula Badosa has spent years managing injury setbacks, but she’s never let them define her career. Even with the challenges she’s faced, Badosa remains positive whenever the subject comes up.
“Of course it is tough,” Badosa told Tennishead. “Especially mentally because I’m a player that I always like to play a lot of matches. And in my career I was already like that, so now having to adapt to this new situation and not being able to play as many matches or as many tournaments as I want is tough. But it is what it is.”
Paula Badosa on injury management, inspiration from Aryna Sabalenka and future goals
While her run in Indian Wells ended with a first-round loss to Yulia Putintseva, Badosa remained positive ahead of the event.
More than anything, she just wanted to feel healthy again.
Badosa gave an update on her fitness in an interview with Tennishead, while also discussing her new partnership with Accelerator Active Energy. The 28-year-old said:
“I’ve been struggling with a similar injury for a long time, and I had to check it. Honestly, I had quite a few injections to be ready as soon as possible,” she said. “I’m feeling good now. I’ve already been pushing my body, and it’s responding pretty well.
“So I’m happy now, and I’m practising now on the court. And it’s fine, but it’s never easy to go through because it’s something that’s always around.”
Badosa has spoken with Aryna Sabalenka about managing injuries – the two played each other in a Grand Slam semi-final last year.
The former world number two will feel that’s where she belongs once more and will hope that another run of form is just around the corner.
Badosa addresses criticism from fans
Badosa’s mental resilience has been tested frequently by her injury challenges, and she recently responded directly to a fan online who questioned her repeated withdrawals.
Accused of being ‘disrespectful’ for pulling out of so many tournaments, Badosa replied: “You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going.”
She added: “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.”
Asked about these comments and what her goals might be going forward while dealing with her physicality, Badosa issued a defiant claim.
Explaining her perspective further, she said: “Well, first of all, going back to the tweet, for me it’s frustrating already for myself as an athlete, living this situation constantly, you know, because you never know how you’re gonna wake up the next day and you have to go through a pain and things that people don’t see and that’s why I responded because sometimes they don’t really know what we’re going through.
“Of course, the body has to respond in that but that’s always been my goal. And of course also the fighting spirit that people can see that and that’s something I want to show the world sometimes that not everything has to go perfect and you have to feel perfect but you can still keep fighting and succeed on that.”
Paula Badosa reflects on practising with Coco Gauff
Badosa’s early exit from Indian Wells was certainly a setback, but just being able to play without any major injury setbacks should be seen as a positive step forward.
Her physical challenges have been a constant barrier, especially given how much ability she brings to the court when healthy.
Before her loss to Putintseva, Badosa had trained with Coco Gauff and discussed what that session felt like, even though she had to take frequent breaks.
She said: “Well, I’m just honestly right now I’m testing my body, I’m trying to move as much as I can to see how I’m gonna respond, especially in competition.
“That’s why I also want to play with the best players in the world because it’s where I test myself more, especially in my physical part. So yeah, I felt pretty good.”
The American will face one of Veronika Kudermetova or Elisabetta Cocciaretto for a place in the fourth round of the event she has been so successful at over the years.
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