Tennis is not just a game of skill and endurance, but also a test of mental resilience. For Paula Badosa as well, the road to success has not been easy. While she wasn’t able to clinch a trophy at Melbourne Park, the former world No. 2 leaves the Australian Open with her best major result yet. A year ago, she struggled with a severe back injury, ranked No. 100, and contemplated retirement. Now, she is at No. 10 in the world, overcame setbacks and established herself as one of the top players again. However, behind her success lies a deeply personal struggle that seemed from sky-high expectations.

Persistent back pain stopped Paula Badosa’s 2024 season, keeping her off the court. She claimed her first WTA 500 title in Washington, D.C., and reached the semifinals of the WTA 1000 events in Cincinnati and Beijing, and capped it off with a career-best quarterfinal run at the US Open. Now, with her hard-court prowess back on full display, Badosa’s remarkable Australian Open journey saw her break back into the Top 10, proving that self-esteem and a never-give-up attitude can overcome even the darkest struggles.

While Badosa’s on-court success is evident to everyone, her journey to reach here has been far from smooth. She has been open about her battles with mental health and has always been vocal about the pressures athletes face. On Sunday, she got candid at the Tennis Insider Club podcast about the intense mental challenges in professional tennis, and talked about her battle with depression and dealing with high expectations. “I went through depression and I had mental health problems,” Badosa revealed.

After winning the Junior Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2015, the expectations surrounding her skyrocketed. She further revealed, “Because I was 18, I was a very good junior, but then the step of going to the pro was not easy. You start losing, and people expect you to be the next Sharapova. They wondered why I wasn’t in the Top 10 yet, but I wasn’t even in the Top 100 at that moment. The expectations were super high, but my level and mental capacity weren’t ready for that.”

Now, with momentum on her side, she sets her sights on the Abu Dhabi Open, where she has a bye in the opening round. Her opening match will be against the winner of Magdalena Frech and Linda Noskova. As she steps into the next phase of her career, she serves as a reminder that success in tennis, and in life, is not just about talent but also about the courage to keep fighting, no matter how difficult the road may seem.

Paula Badosa reveals details of the back injury that derailed her career

Badosa suffered a severe back injury in 2023, with reports revealing fractures in her spine (L4, L5) that required extensive treatment and prolonged rest. As she struggled through her recovery, the mental burden of uncertainty weighed heavily on her, leading to thoughts of stepping away from the sport altogether.

Things went from bad to worse during the 2024 clay court season, a stretch of the year that increased Badosa’s struggles. She suffered an R64 defeat at her home event, the Madrid Open, a loss that added to her growing doubts about returning to her peak form.

“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. Especially after my home tournament in Madrid, it was very tough for me—a mix of back pain, mental struggles, and everything. At that moment, I was thinking maybe I’m not made for coming back again,” Badosa admitted in her press conference following her commendable 7-5, 6-4 victory over American star Coco Gauff.

Only three months ago, Badosa was uncertain about her future. Now, the New York-born former world No. 2 has finally emerged from the dark period that almost ended her career. As fate would have it, one of the toughest periods of her life prepared her for an even greater challenge of coming back stronger than ever.