Paula Badosa reveals “complicated” path to continuing career on WTA podcast

Snakebitten by injuries, Paula Badosa opened up about the lengths she has gone to in order to prolong her playing career on the latest episode of the *WTA Insider Podcast*.

“In Indian Wells, the doctors told me it would be very complicated to continue my career,” the former world No. 2 told WTA Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen, revealing that she received the first of what will likely be regular cortisone shots to manage her chronic back pain.

“They said this is the only option we can give you and maybe you will have to keep doing that if you want to play for a few more years. I said, ‘A few more years? I'm still 26.’ For me that was very tough.”

The 2021 BNP Paribas Open champion, who has enjoyed personal happiness with boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas, has dealt with numerous physical issues since her 2022 ranking peak. But it was a lingering back injury that derailed her 2023 season, forcing her to withdraw from three Grand Slam tournaments and shut down her season after Wimbledon.

“I've lived through so many experiences, also mental things," said Badosa, who became an advocate for those struggling with mental health struggles back in 2019. “Now an injury that I was never expecting, to have an injury for this long. Then being on the top, now again low, trying to come back. It's intense.”

Tsitsipas echoed those concerns at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden last month following her decision to withdraw from the tournament.

“I'm just there as much as I can to keep making her feel good that at least we are together and we're trying to find solution together.”

Since receiving the cortisone shot, Badosa had felt in better spirits through the spring only to pick up a leg injury that forced her to retire from a high-quality clash with best friend Aryna Sabalenka at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

Still, Badosa is set to compete at the Mutua Madrid Open, where she reached the semifinals as a wild card in 2021. The Spaniard will face a qualifier or lucky loser in a section of the draw that features No. 9 seed Jelena Ostapenko as a possible second-round opponent, and remains optimistic about her longterm prospects.

“For me, being able to play three or four more years would be amazing,” Badosa said.

Click here to listen to the full podcast.