Paula Badosa’s Shocking Break from Tennis: Chronic Back Injury Forces Star to Step Away
In a stunning revelation, tennis sensation Paula Badosa has announced a temporary hiatus from the sport she loves, citing a chronic back injury that has plagued her career. The 27-year-old Spaniard, who recently withdrew from the Miami Open, has been battling this debilitating issue, which even made her contemplate retirement last year.
Badosa’s decision to pull out of the Miami Open came after a promising start, having secured victories in her initial matches. However, the pain forced her to withdraw from a clash with rising star Alexandra Eala. This setback follows her earlier withdrawals from both Indian Wells and the Merida Open, signaling the severity of her condition.
Taking to Instagram, Badosa expressed her frustration and determination, stating, “Hello everyone, as you know I had to withdraw from Miami and the upcoming tournaments. It’s very sad and tough to deal with the pain and especially stopping and coming back every single time. Now it’s time to go through the recovery process again. Hopefully, I will be back soon.”
The timing of her break is crucial, with the clay-court season looming and the prestigious French Open just two months away. As a former Indian Wells champion, Badosa faces an uphill battle to regain her fitness and form in time for these critical tournaments.
Badosa’s injury woes have been a significant hurdle in her career, having fractured two vertebrae in 2023. This injury led to a period of inactivity, causing her to drop out of the world’s top 50 rankings. Reflecting on her struggles during this year’s Australian Open, where she was defeated by Aryna Sabalenka in the semi-finals, Badosa shared insights into the challenges she faced.
“It was a stress fracture in my L4 and L5 that wasn’t recovering, and then the facet joints also like they were inflamed all the time, so every time I was doing exercises, I had to stop because it wasn’t responding well,” Badosa explained.
The severity of her condition became apparent when she was advised to limit her injections to three per year, yet found herself requiring a second injection within the first four months of the year. This realization brought her to a crossroads in her career.
The 2024 clay-court season proved particularly challenging, culminating in a disappointing first-round exit at her home tournament in Madrid. Reflecting on this period, Badosa admitted, “I think especially the clay-court season was pretty bad for me and also the back was still hurting, so in that moment I didn’t really know what to do.”
The emotional toll was evident as she continued, “Especially after my home tournament in Madrid was very tough for me. A mix of back, mentally, and everything. In that moment, I was thinking maybe I’m not made for being back again.”
As Badosa steps away from the court to focus on her recovery, the tennis world eagerly awaits her return, hoping she can overcome this formidable obstacle and reclaim her place among the sport’s elite.
