It is safe to say that 2026 has been quite tough for Paula Badosa. The Spaniard hasn’t only suffered from fitness issues regularly, but her ranking has also taken a major hit. Having finished last year at No. 25, she has gone down all the way to No. 113 due to her dismal performances. However, Badosa finally got something to celebrate about when she defeated Kayla Day 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Charleston Open. This was her first victory in the tournament since 2023, and it left her on the verge of tears.

“I’m very emotional. Don’t do this to me. It means the world to me. I was very, very sad last year. I had to withdraw from this tournament because of the injury. Coming back today felt really well. It’s a very special tournament for me. I love the crowd. They’re always super supportive. They have so much passion for tennis. For me it’s one of my favorite stops of the year. I really enjoy it,” she said.

Badosa put in a strong performance against Day to advance to the second round. While she didn’t look to be in control at times and got her serve broken on three occasions, her overall performance was very solid. The 28-year-old has now qualified for the Round of 32, where she will be up against Greece’s Maria Sakkari.

While Badosa will be aiming to make a deep run in the Charleston Open, she will have to battle another serious injury that she had picked up recently. Coming into the competition, Badosa had revealed that she had torn the labrum in her right hip, resulting in daily pain. She has had recurring issues with her back since 2023, and this new injury has only made matters worse.

“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,” Badosa said during her Media Day interview at the Charleston Open.

Tackling such career-threatening injuries can physically and mentally drain any player, but Badosa is not yet ready to give up.

Paula Badosa opens up about her retirement

Despite the significant impact of injuries on Badosa’s career and performance, she maintains her self-belief and confidence in her abilities. The Spaniard remains very passionate about tennis and isn’t in any mood to leave it anytime soon.

“Of course, there will always be people who doubt you when times get tough, when things don’t go as planned, or when expectations aren’t met. I know that; I’ve always been very aware of it, but what hurts me the most is when I’m the one who doubts myself. That’s where I am now, doubting absolutely everything, both my body and my tennis,” Badosa told Punto de Break.

The veteran also opened up about her sharp decline in the rankings. While Badosa may have already fallen 88 places down so far in 2026, she is determined to improve her form in the upcoming tournaments.

“At the beginning of the year, it was really hard to control my thoughts; I was being way too hard on myself. In some ways, I still am, all because I want to make up for lost time. This is what’s causing me the most anxiety—not accepting where I am right now every time I look at the rankings. I’m really not used to seeing myself in this position, so it’s an internal mental battle I have to fight. I’m trying to cope, put things in perspective, and be patient,” she said.

Will Badosa be able to rediscover her form at the Charleston Open, or will she bow out early once again? Let us know your predictions in the comments!