Paula Badosa has been battling through injury struggles for years now, but refuses to be characterised by her fitness issues.
In fact, the Spaniard remains supremely positive whenever asked about that topic, as she did whilst speaking exclusively with Tennishead earlier this week.
However, it’s not easy to stay so upbeat.
Paula Badosa has battled a crippling back injury, among other ailments, for some time now. It even led her to consider retirement in 2024.
Is Rybakina the best player on the WTA Tour right now?
If not, who is better?
Unwilling to be defined by these issues, it has been inspiring to watch her continue to be an ever-present threat on the WTA Tour, even if she is often forced to withdraw from events she would obviously rather play.
Badosa discussed what it’s like to constantly be at odds with her own body, and how it feels to see others fail to understand the gravity of her situation.
She did so with a smile plastered across her face.
Paula Badosa talks openly about her fitness struggles
Speaking ahead of her first-round exit at the hands of Yulia Putintseva in Indian Wells, Badosa was unsurprisingly optimistic.
She had aspirations for a deep run, but above all else, hoped to be healthy.
In an exclusive interview with Tennishead, whilst discussing her latest partnership with the zero-sugar energy drink Accelerator Active Energy, Badosa offered a fitness update.
The 28-year-old claimed: “Well, after Dubai, I had an injury there.
“I’ve been struggling with a similar injury since a long time ago, and I had to check it. I did some, honestly, quite a few injections to be ready and as soon as possible. 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 court, and it’s fine, but it’s never easy to go through it because it’s something that’s always around, so especially mentally.”
Do you think women should play best-of-five set matches?
Badosa has received advice from Aryna Sabalenka on how to deal with these injury struggles, with the two having actually faced each other in a Grand Slam semi-final last year.
That is the level the former world number two will know she belongs at, and will surely aspire to reach again soon.
Paula Badosa reacts to fan criticism
Touching on the mental fortitude it takes to continue pushing despite such relentless fitness struggles, Badosa actually snapped back at one fan on social media just last month.
Having been branded ‘disrespectful’ for withdrawing from so many events, she argued: “You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going.”
She continued: “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.
She admitted: “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.
“Going to your other question, my goals are always gonna be, of course, trying to win titles, trying to get back to the best players in the world and talking about rankings. I always enjoy that. I enjoyed that challenge.
| Tournament | Round reached | Defeated by |
| Indian Wells | First Round | Yulia Putintseva |
| Dubai Open | Second Round | Elina Svitolina (retired) |
| Qatar Open | N/A (withdrew) | N/A |
| Abu Dhabi | First Round | Aliaksandra Sasnovich |
| Australian Open | Second Round | Oksana Selekhmeteva |
| Adelaide International | First Round | Marie Bouzková |
| Brisbane International | Second Round | Elena Rybakina |
“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.”
How Paula Badosa felt after practising with Coco Gauff
It was disappointing to see Badosa fall to an early exit in Indian Wells, but if she was able to compete without any serious injury aggravation, this must be considered a success.
After all, it seems cruel for a player of her talent to be constantly inhibited by her own physical condition.
Badosa had practised with Coco Gauff before her loss to Putintseva, and shared what the level had been like despite being forced to stop regularly.
She admitted: “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 pretty good.
“Of course, maybe the frustrating part for me is like stopping every once in a while because it’s tough to get back to it and getting the rhythm. But I try to do it. It’s not my first time, unfortunately, so I have experience with that, and for now, I’m feeling well.
“I mean, I trained yesterday, I trained today. I’m doing long training just to get used to it when I compete, and for now, it’s responding well.”
Coco Gauff’s Indian Wells draw was revealed earlier this week, highlighting her projected route to the final.
Paula Badosa discusses her latest partnership
Then asked to discuss her new partnership with Accelerator Active Energy at greater length, Badosa explained the huge benefits that this drink has to her daily routine.
“I’ve partnered with this brand a long time ago and I’m super, super happy,” she began. “I think it aligns with so many things.
“Speaking about energy, it gives you so much energy, but also the formula, it’s natural, everything no artificial products. So for me, that was very important in the moment I was starting with them, and for me, the most important, when I take something, it’s the product and the quality of it.
“So, having all that and at the same time giving you the energy without a crash, it helps me maybe perform with more consistency that… I’m a player, I like to be pretty consistent.”
