“On the court, I want to maintain the same level, I want to be one of the best in the world, and I want to reach the final rounds of tournaments.” These were the determined words of Paula Badosa ahead of the 2025 season, and until Miami, she lived them. Her tireless grind bore fruit in Melbourne, where she stormed into the AO semifinals, earning her long-awaited return to the Top 10 in the world rankings as well. But just as momentum surged, misfortune struck! A painful injury forced her out of the Miami Open’s R16 and sidelined her from Madrid and now the Italian Open. Still, Badosa’s spirit remains unbroken.

Badosa has had to withdraw from the WTA 1000 tournament in Rome because of a chronic back injury. The news came just minutes before her scheduled opening match against Japanese Naomi Osaka on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Currently the World No. 10 Badosa was eyeing a high-stakes clash with Osaka, a former world number one and four-time GS champion, in what would have been a blockbuster clash.

“Paula Badosa and Petra Kvitova have withdrawn due to injury. Badosa will be replaced by the lucky loser Viktorija Golubic, while Ons Jabeur advances by walkover,” the tournament organizers officially confirmed. The late withdrawal means Badosa misses her second consecutive WTA 1000 event, having pulled out of the Mutua Madrid Open just two weeks earlier because of the same persistent back problem.

Right after the announcement, Badosa turned to the IG to share a deeply emotional message. Posting a black-and-white image of herself sitting alone in an empty stadium, she captioned it, “Turn the pain into power…” The symbolic photo and quote reflected both her disappointment and her resolve, offering fans a glimpse of the mental toughness she continues to nurture in the face of adversity.

The 25-year-old Catalan had been building a strong narrative this season, especially after her impressive run to the semifinals at the AO. That performance propelled her back into the Top 10 and rekindled hopes of a comeback year. However, the resurfacing of her long-standing back injury has once again cast a shadow over her campaign. Missing out on the Italian Open, especially after her R16 finish last year, also means losing critical ranking points. Badosa has already dropped 120 points for failing to defend her 2024 performance.

While her back injury looms as a dark cloud over her 2025 season, Badosa is far from defeated. The Spaniard has recently opened up about exploring long-term medical solutions to treat the chronic pain that has plagued her for some time now. 

Paola Badosa talks about the primary treatment that can finally help her deal with the back pain

Paula Badosa is refusing to let a chronic back injury derail her passion and purpose for quite some time now. For the Spanish star, tennis isn’t just a profession, it’s a calling. “I have no choice, I’m very stubborn,” she admitted before leaving Madrid. “For me to stop, the doctors would have to tell me so… and I’m in daily contact with them.”

The fire that has driven Badosa since her early days still burns bright, even as she navigates one of the toughest challenges of her career. Ever since a stress fracture in 2023 nearly ended her journey, she’s been fighting back, both physically and mentally.

Her resilience paid off in 2024, when she reached her first-ever GS quarter-final, marking a triumphant return. But as the 2025 season unfolded, reminders of her physical limitations returned with force. The turning point came in the second half of Sunshine Doubles, where she was forced to withdraw ahead of her R16 clash against rising star Alexandra Eala, a moment she described as the real blow!

Despite the heartbreak, Badosa has been transparent with fans about her ongoing treatment. She recently revealed the rigorous routine she’s enduring to stay on court. “I’ve told them many times: until you operate on me and there’s no other solution, I’ll continue with the injections, even though I know how bad they are for me and how harmful they are to my body,” she said. For now, surgery remains a last resort.

Still, her love for the sport hasn’t wavered. “I’m so passionate about tennis, every day, I’m so passionate,” Badosa added. “In the end, I’m still 27. If they tell me to stop at 30 or 32, then fine, but if I can handle it somehow, then I’ll try.”

Though she will miss another marquee event, Paula Badosa’s story remains one of resilience. Her hunger to return stronger echoes in her silence and her words, as she continues to fight for both her health and her place at the top of the women’s game.