Paula Badosa has reached the second week of a Grand Slam before but her run at this year’s Wimbledon Championships is very different.
The Spaniard has secured her place in the last 16 after suffering from a serious back injury so severe that at one point doctors warned she may have to retire. Badosa has been affected by pain in the region ever since suffering a stress fracture last season. Despite undergoing various treatments, the issue is long-term and she has injections so she can continue playing.
“At the bottom of my heart, I wasn’t accepting it. I was, like, ‘I’m going to continue no matter what’. That’s also what made me the player I am, that I always want more,” Badosa said during her press conference.
“I’m always going to fight, however difficult that moment is, you know.
“Of course, there are some moments that there’s pain, and you don’t really know what to do. You a feel a bit lost. But I didn’t care. I remember telling to my team that I was going to play with pain.”
Given these circumstances, the 26-year-old was emotional following her latest win at The All England Club where she ousted an in-form Daria Kasatkina 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4. A player who won the Eastbourne International last week and dropped no games in her previous match against Yuriko Miyazaki.
“Last year here I had to retire … I was on the couch and watching the tournaments from home. This year when I started, I didn’t know what was going to happen.” she reflected.
Before her physical issues, Badosa has won three WTA titles so far in her career, including the prestigious Indian Wells Open in 2021. She has been ranked as high as No.2 in the world.
At present, she is 93th in the PIF WTA rankings but was as low as 140th in May. A true testament to her determination in the sport.
“I’ve always been tough mentally and a fighter, so I was going to do it anyway. So for me, I’m very proud that I’ve been through all of this,” she said.
“And now I’m again in the fourth round and playing at a good level, because sometimes when I came back (I was) struggling so much, my level wasn’t there.
“I felt so far away. Now, seeing myself back at it, it means a lot.”
Badosa will next play either Dayana Yastremska or Donna Vekic.
