Paula Badosa has always been vocal about her close-knit friendships on the tour, especially her strong bonds with Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur. But now, it seems like her circle of camaraderie is expanding—and the latest to join in is none other than the British sensation, Emma Raducanu. Raducanu has been going through a tough spell, battling injuries and setbacks that have kept her off the courts more than she’d like. In moments like these, what any athlete truly craves is a little bit of support and understanding from someone who knows the ropes. And Badosa seems to be stepping up for Raducanu at just the right time.

The Spanish tennis sensation is known for her active presence on social media. She took to her Instagram handle once again and engaged in a Q&A session with her fans and answered a variety of questions about her favorite tournament, her aspirations, and her preparedness for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup. In the process, when a fan quizzed about her take on Raducanu, Badosa had only praises to sing. 

Badosa was asked to “Describe Emma Raducanu in three words” by a fan who expressed their admiration for both players. Responding to the question, the star player wrote, “Strong, fighter and beautiful,” signifying her high regard for the 21-year-old. Now, Badosa’s remark for the young player comes at a time when the latter is witnessing challenging times in her professional life. 

Remember, Emma Raducanu played her last tournament at the Korea Open where she faced a foot injury. The struggle began for the star player while playing against Yue Yuan when she received some treatment on her foot. It was later found to be a ligament sprain on her foot and has forced her to withdraw from crucial tournaments like the China Open, the Wuhan Open, and now, the Hong Kong Open as well. She spent the majority of her 2023 season battling with injuries as well. 

The British sensation was recovering from ankle and wrist surgeries last year as well. This year too, she faced a lower back injury and the toll on her body has been immense since then, forcing the player to be away from the courts. But Badosa’s latest remark highlights her potential as was evidenced by her quick rise in rankings from No. 285 at the beginning of the season to No. 55 as of now. This, however, is not the first time when the Spaniard has expressed her admiration for Raducanu. 

Paula Badosa opened up about her bond with Raducanu in August this year and revealed that the two share a close bond. “I think she’s dealing with it (injury woes) pretty well now. She’s found a balance. It’s never going to be easy in her case because, as I say, anything she does, it’s going to get crazy. But it’s part of it. I think she has to find the beautiful part of it. That’s what I’m trying to find also. Of course, we talk about it. It’s nice that we can share our own experiences.” Meanwhile, Raducanu too, has reciprocated similar love for Badosa.

When Emma Raducanu expressed her admiration for Paula Badosa

Emma Raducanu and Paula Badosa have faced each other only twice on the courts and have won one match each. But their bond extends beyond the matches they have played against each other as was witnessed at the Citi Open where the duo were each other’s practice partners. Away from the courts too, the players are equally supportive of each other and their bond is evidenced time and again. 

When the Spaniard shared her pictures from her photoshoot for La Vanguardia, a Spanish publication, Raducanu was one of the first people to shower her love. Commenting on the post on Instagram, the 21-year-old wrote, “Daaamnnn girl,” expressing her awe over Badosa’s image. A similar scene also erupted between the two at Wimbledon this year, when Raducanu revealed a unique nickname of herself and Badosa while sharing a string of pictures together. “Paulita and Emmita 🤣🫶,” she wrote. 

But for Raducanu, the challenges ahead are intense. It would be necessary for the young player to overcome her injury menaces and showcase her strong and fighting side, as highlighted by Badosa.