“Unfortunately. My 2024 season has ended,” Paula Badosa announced as she confirmed her absence at the Japan Open. It was a disappointing end for the Spanish beauty after being in some good form in recent times. While fans expected more out of her owing to her consistent displays lately, prevailing health issues cut short Badosa’s 2024 season. The 26-year-old last featured at the Ningbo Open, where she reached the semifinals before withdrawing midway through her last 4 clash against Daria Kasatkina. Amid these physical issues, Badosa made a candid confession about missing the WTA Finals berth while hoping to make a strong comeback next year.

Earlier this month, Badosa was interviewed by the EFE agency, during which she chalked out her plans for the 2025 season. Interestingly, Badosa was in the fray to qualify for the WTA Finals in Riyadh. She sat 11th on the Race to the WTA Finals leaderboard but withdrawals from the latter part of the Asian Swing proved costly for her.

Asked about why she chose to miss a chance to qualify for the year-end championships, Badosa said, “It has never been my goal to go to the Masters Cup. This year my goal was to be as high as possible. Think that four months ago I was 120th in the world and for me to be 10th or 11th in the ranking now was already a lot. Being in the Finals was not in the plans and I also think that what I have to learn is to choose the tournaments well and take care of myself physically and mentally. If it had been an objective I would have tried to play in Wuhan or now in Tokyo, but I prefer to take care of myself physically and mentally, which is my priority.”

Badosa was just over 1200 points away from the seventh-placed Qinwen Zheng in the WTA Finals race. She could’ve covered the distance by playing in the remaining tournaments before the WTA Finals. However, she was not at her physical best and preferred to take time off the court.

Despite ending her season early, it isn’t the end for Badosa this year. She will lead Spain’s charge at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals next month.

Paula Badosa set to don her country’s colors

The 12 best tennis nations in women’s tennis will set off to Malaga to play in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. Spain will have the home advantage and a real boost after Paula Badosa confirmed her participation in the event which is fondly called the World Cup of Tennis. Spain’s captain, Anabel Medina, was relieved to have gotten Badosa on her team.

She said, “We have suffered a lot with Paula. She had us in suspense for more than a year due to a back injury, but luckily she is in exceptional shape, she has made very good progress, she is in the Top 20 in the world, and has just made the quarter-finals in New York.”

Despite a full-strength Spanish team, it won’t be an easy task for the likes of Badosa as they have a challenging draw. Spain will open their campaign in Malaga against Poland, who will have Iga Swiatek in their team. Can Badosa leave her physical troubles behind and help her country win the Billie Jean King Cup? Let us know your views in the comments below.