Yet another setback for Paula Badosa! The Spanish tennis star has been managing her back injury since 2023 when a stress fracture nearly put an end to her career. However, in 2024, she made a strong comeback in the later phases, making a few longer runs and also winning the title at the 2024 Mubadala Citi DC Open. However, despite these incredible runs, her season came to an abrupt end in October. While announcing this, she said, “I’m very proud of myself. I’m back where I wanted to be and where I was aiming since my comeback.” Owing to this incredible comeback, she also won the Comeback of the Year award. Then in December, she claimed that she had “one of the best preseasons” of her career.

Result? Badosa’s hard work paid off in Melbourne as she reached the SF at the 2025 AO. With this, she also managed to secure her place in the Top 10. But then again, her season got derailed due to an injury. Badosa had to withdraw from her R16 match at the Miami Open. She failed to compete at the Madrid Open, and as things stand, she has now also withdrawn from the Italian Open.

Ahead of the Madrid Open, Paula Badosa admitted that her back was “not 100%“ and she also revealed that she has been taking pain-killing injections throughout the last few months. Badosa was supposed to take on Naomi Osaka for a lip-smacking clash in Rome, but as per renowned tennis journalist Jose Morgado’s tweet, “The day was supposed to start with Badosa vs. Osaka and Kvitova vs. Jabeur but… neither of that is happening. Both Badosa and Kvitova withdrew🥹 Osaka playing LL Golubic in R2 and Jabeur is into R3 without playing.“

Both Badosa and Osaka have never faced each other in their tennis careers, so everyone at the Italian Open was quite eager to witness this blockbuster clash. But perhaps with the Spaniard’s withdrawal, the fans will now have to wait for a bit longer. On the other hand, talking about the other big match, this was Petra Kvitova’s seventh meeting with Ons Jabeur. Kvitova recently celebrated her first victory after returning from a maternity break. She defeated Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu by 7-5,6-1 in her first match. As things stand, the Italian fans have now been deprived of two lip-smacking clashes at this iconic clay-court event. Can they get fit before the French Open? Time will tell!

Before the start of this season, when Paula Badosa was asked to share her goals for the 2025 season, she said, “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, hopefully winning several, facing the best in the world, and enjoying this sport. I also believe that I am in a great moment in my personal life, with many fantastic people around me, so that also makes me very happy.” But she’s yet to win a title this season!

Paula Badosa is currently ranked 10th in the world, and she has a win-loss record of 12-8. Apart from reaching the SF at the AO, her best record has been reaching the QF of the Merida Open Akron. How tough it has been for her to fight all these hardships?

“Every day I wake up feeling scared” – Paula Badosa makes a shocking revelation

Earlier this year, during the Abu Dhabi Open, Paula Badosa revealed how tough it was to battle through these ups and downs in her career. In fact, there was a time when she even claimed that she was “close to retirement.” After her withdrawal from the Madrid Open, she yet again opened up on her chronic back injury and her constant struggles.

In an interview with Eurosport, Badosa said, “Every day I wake up feeling scared. I’m not kidding, this week I had to text Pol Toledo at 5:00 a.m. because I couldn’t sleep. I can’t cope with the uncertainty of whether my back will be okay that day or whether I’ll be able to live a normal life. Mentally, that’s what’s been the hardest for me.”

How badly does this injury impact her lifelong passion for tennis, though? Later on, she claimed, “I have no choice, I’m very stubborn,” she said before leaving Madrid. “For me to stop, the doctors would have to tell me so… and I’m in daily contact with them.” Talking about her future and the goals that she had previously set for herself, Paula Badosa said, “Do I want to spend five more years playing fewer tournaments, or take a few risks and strive for the big goals? I guess the answer lies in finding a balance.“

Paula Badosa came closest to winning a Grand Slam title this year at the AO SF. So, now this has reignited her hunger for bigger titles! She’s proud of her journey, but at the same time, she knows that she’s “going to retire young” and the next day she’ll be “straight into surgery.” But for now, all she wants is to continue chasing her relentless passion for tennis with some injections. Despite knowing how “harmful” they are to her body. Do you think Paula Badosa can make a strong comeback at the French Open this year?