Paula Badosa‘s performance graph continues to sink. The WTA star not only had to call off her participation in Indian Wells but was also unable to secure evident positions in the ones she took part in, like the recent Stuttgart Open. While back injuries have stopped her from keeping up with her WTA peers and improving, Badosa recently opened up about a depressing reality.
In a recent podcast appearance, the Spanish WTA star revealed the seriousness of her back injury, which is more risky than thought to be before. The 26-year-old highlighted the challenges she has faced as injuries tamper with her career. Badosa remembered the painful experience, stating on the WTA Insider Podcast, “In Indian Wells, the doctors told me it will be very complicated to continue my career.”
She continued her statement by expressing initial shock for incurring a disturbing injury that could also threaten her future in the sport. Describing the treatments she underwent, she said, “We tried these injections, cortisone and they said, this is the only option we can give you. And maybe you will have to keep doing that, if you want to like play for a few more years.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Paula Badosa revealed to Courtney Nguyen on the WTA Insider Podcast that during Indian Wells, doctors told her that continuing her career would be very complicated
She was given cortisone shots & told she may need to keep receiving them if she wants to play for a few more years pic.twitter.com/335s2yxwAh
— Melanie Lautrup (@melanie_lautrup) April 22, 2024
However, despite going through countless troubles, Badosa remained optimistic about her future in the sport. “Now I’m very happy that for the moment, I’m okay,” she added. However, she also admitted to the scares about the possibility of relapse, saying, “I’m still pretty scared because they said okay, this can work for a few months, but maybe you will have to check again.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
As Badosa continuously finds herself in a struggling situation of being stuck between her aspirations and the pain of her injury, her future in the sport still remains covered with dark clouds.
Paula Badosa aspires to regain her position in the top rankings
Besides talking about the terrible situation she had to go through, Paula Badosa appeared to be ambitious about her future in the sport. Viewing the recent drop in her rankings, she expressed a deep desire to regain her position in the scene. “I don’t like to put numbers, but I would like to go to be top 30 and then top 10. Again, it will be it will be amazing. But I think top 10 this year, it’s too much after all, but maybe in a year on a year and a half. I would like to be back there,” she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Badosa also described how playing on clay courts and grass will be easier on her leg than the hard courts. On some days, the Spaniard says, the pain was unbearable but now she can handle it better.
As the WTA star looks forward to improving her performance and regaining the spotlight that she lost, her strategy to attain the quotes numbers still remains to be seen.