Paula Badosa’s frustration was clear when she said, “I’m so tired of this. ❤️‍🩹” after retiring mid-match at the Berlin Open. The former world No. 2 has been managing a chronic lower-back issue that has disrupted her entire season. The injury pushed her out of multiple tournaments, including Miami, Indian Wells, Madrid, and Rome, and for a moment, it looked like she’d be sidelined for longer than expected.

But the 28-year-old Spaniard, whose last appearance came in Beijing in late September where she retired mid-match against Karolina Muchova, now seems to be shifting toward a more hopeful path as she eyes her return. On her birthday today, tributes poured in, and like many fans, the Australian Open’s social media page joined in by posting a short clip of her battle with Coco Gauff during her semifinal run this year. Their message, “When you believe ✨ Happy birthday to our AO25 semifinalist, @paulabadosa 🥳” brought an emotional response from the former world No. 2.

When she hinted at a comeback by writing, “🥹❤️ can’t wait to come back! Thank you,” it felt like a hopeful shift after months of setbacks. The Spaniard’s injury journey has stretched on far longer than anyone expected. Back in May 2023 at the Italian Open, she suffered a stress fracture in her L4/L5 vertebrae during her match against Ons Jabeur. A few weeks later, she was forced to skip the French Open.

Even after an 8-12 week recovery window, her struggles continued, and she retired again mid-match at Wimbledon against Marta Kostyuk. By July, her attempted comeback ended abruptly just three days before her US Open opener against Venus Williams, officially closing her season early.

Since then, Paula Badosa has missed six tournaments and three of the last five Grand Slams. Her ranking has dropped to No. 25, and she wrapped up the year with an 18-12 record.

The toughest blow, however came after her Wimbledon exit. Badosa fell 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to Katie Boulter in the first round and later admitted she had torn her psoas muscle, the one that connects the lower back to the leg, before even stepping on court. Yet now, she appears close to turning the page. Why, you ask?

Just recently, she talked about feeling better while enjoying the support of being in a team environment again at the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals. Surrounded by teammates Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Cristina Bucsa, Aliona Bolsova, and Leyre Romero, she shared: “Yeah, it’s been a tough couple of months… Day by day I’m feeling a bit better.”

And if that wasn’t enough, Badosa also posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, suggesting she’s been focusing on healing emotionally as well as physically.

Paula Badosa focuses on rebuilding herself

Paula Badosa has also gone through personal changes this year, especially after she and Stefanos Tsitsipas ended their relationship, yet again, over the summer. So, barely five days ago, she opened up to her fans on Instagram, sharing a message that reflected where she is emotionally and how she’s trying to grow through everything she has faced.

Alongside a simple selfie, she wrote about how life can knock a person down so hard that getting up feels impossible. She explained that “moments when the soul breaks in silence” can make doubts feel heavier than hope, but she also added that those empty moments can become the start of reconnecting with yourself.

She went on to explain that healing isn’t about pretending the pain never happened. Instead, it’s about “looking at yourself with compassion, acknowledging your wounds, and understanding that everything you went through was a necessary part of the journey.” To her, peace doesn’t come from what you own or who stands beside you, but from being able to “breathe calmly with yourself.”

For Badosa, all of this personal reflection ties back to what matters most right now: finding the right treatment for her back and staying clear of the setbacks that derailed her season. Above everything else, her priority is healing, both physically and emotionally, as she tries to build her way back. That said, do you think Paula Badosa’s latest message signals a true turning point in her comeback journey?