Paula Badosa, now ranked 11th in the world, found herself struggling with form in the Middle East swing after her stellar Australian Open campaign, where she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal, before falling to her close friend Aryna Sabalenka. Her Miami Open journey started with promise with a tough R64 win against Canada’s Victoria Mboko raising hopes. However, her lingering back issues seem to be troubling her again, casting doubt over her progress in the tournament.

Currently, the 10th seed is facing Danish player Clara Tauson in their fourth meeting on the Tour. Paula holds a 2-1 lead in their previous encounters, setting the stage for an exciting match. However, while she made strides, the first set brought an expected complication. The Spaniard faced complications with her lower back during the match. An image, shared by The Tennis Letter, captured her lying on the ground mid-set during the first set. While details remain unclear, it appears she is dealing with a ‘lower back injury once again,’ raising concerns about her chances of winning this match.

Ultimately, she won the first set 6-3 and the match is now moving into its second set. But what is this injury that seems to be troubling the Badosa again? For the unversed, Badosa’s journey has been marred by a daunting back injury that began in 2023. She suffered stress fractures in her L4 and L5 vertebrae, which not only sidelined her from competition but also weighed heavily on her mental health.

The injury forced her to consider ending her promising career, as she faced relentless pain and the frustration of repeated treatments. “Well, it was a stress fracture in my L4 L5 that wasn’t recovering,” she previously explained, highlighting the emotional toll it took on her. She came back in 2024 at the Adelaide International in January, ranked No. 100, and quickly began to regain her form.

Update: Paula Badosa won the match despite this moment of alarm! The Spaniard beat Tauson in straight sets. 6-3, 7-6.

Following her return to the court after her injury, Badosa earned herself the title of ‘Comeback Player of the Year’ last year as she jumped into the top 15 as well. However, it’s a long road ahead and Paula has acknowledged the obstacles she will face on her way back to the top.

Paula Badosa opens up about her injury following her recent withdrawal from Merida Open

Paula Badosa started the year with a bang, reaching her first Australian Open semifinal. The highlight was taking down Coco Gauff in straight sets in the Round of 8, which propelled the Spaniard to World No. 10. However, her close friend Aryna Sabalenka ended her dream run. After Melbourne, Badosa continued her momentum at the Dubai Tennis Championships, making it to the third round before Elena Rybakina stopped her in a thrilling three-setter.

But then, things got tough. At the Merida Open, Badosa faced Daria Saville in the quarterfinals. She dominated the first set 6-1 and even broke early in the second, but back pain forced her to retire. “Hey everyone, Thanks so much for all the messages and support. I had to pull out of the match in Mérida because of lower back pain, but I’m already working on getting better. I’ll give it my all to get back on the court as soon as possible, with more energy than ever. Big hug, Paula,” she shared on Instagram.

Reflecting on her injury, she told The National, “It was really tough. For me, some days I think about it, I just like to go back with my thoughts and moments and thinking about it … it’s tough for me even to think about it because it was very painful.”

As Badosa moves forward at the Miami Open, she’s set to face either Madison Keys or Alexandra Eala. But the big question is: Can she arrive at that match in the best physical condition possible and keep her winning streak going? What do you think?