Shortly before this year’s French Open Paula Badosa had doubts that she would be able to play in the tournament due to an issue that has hampered her progression in the sport.
The former world No.2 plays on the Tour with pain in her back that originated from a stress fracture she suffered last season. Doctors have previously told Badosa that it would be ‘complicated’ if she continues her career but the Spaniard has opted to do so. Although it is a far from easy task.
Badosa began her French Open campaign on Tuesday with a hard-fought 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, win over 26th seed Katie Boulter. The victory follows up on her recent encouraging run at the Italian Open where she reached the fourth round before losing to Coco Gauff.
“It’s not easy,” the world No.139 said of her physical issues after beating Boulter.
“After Rome, I felt pain in my back again, I had to return to Spain. Many doubts arose, and uncertainty. I wondered how I am going to continue like this, depending on the injections.”
“Today, I have to live with the pain and stop training. It happened to me a couple of days ago, in fact. Then, in some sections of the game, I feel it a little more and I get scared.”
It is tough for any player to cope with such a situation whilst also having to deal with their opponent on the court.Badosa has won a trio of WTA titles so far in her career, including the prestigious Indian Wells Open in 2021. She is also a former quarter-finalist at the French Open.
“In the end, I’m struggling with that, with the rival in front of me and with myself, because I also miss a lot of points,” she said.
“There are so many things when I play a game that it becomes difficult for me. Sometimes it is difficult for me to control my emotions.”
“In the first set (against Boulter) I feel like a mountain and I think, I can’t continue like this. On the other hand, when the match ends, I am proud of how I was able to overcome those thoughts and I say to myself, come on, come on, tomorrow I have another chance “Let’s see how I get up and how I am. But I’m struggling with a lot of things.”
Given her back problem, questions have been raised about why Badosa has opted to also play in the mixed doubles tournament alongside her partner Stefanos Tsitsipas. The two recently confirmed they are in a relationship again after going through a brief separation.
“Honestly, I don’t rest on a rest day, I have to train… As I have many things to improve in my tennis, especially the first shots, the volleys, the serve, the rest… It seemed to me that it was a good idea being able to play doubles or mixed,” she explained.
“In this case, because of the relationship I have and the partner I have [Tsitsipas], who is going to do a lot of work and is going to help me a lot in that aspect, I think it is a good idea.
“In the end, the mixed doubles is an hour, an hour and a half, and it helps me train.”
In the second round of the French Open singles tournament, Badosa will play Yulia Putintseva.
