Ever since singles players were allowed to compete in doubles based on their singles rankings, it hasn’t been smooth going. While the move was made to encourage more singles specialists to play doubles, the new rule changes haven’t gone down well with doubles specialists. Furthermore, the singles players not completing the doubles tournaments has further raised agony among the regular doubles players. Earlier today, one such incident occurred, involving Paula Badosa.

The Spanish beauty is in Beijing to play in the WTA 1000 China Open. Along with singles commitments, Badosa also opted to play in doubles alongside Karolina Muchova. While the pair won their first-round encounter against Irina Khromacheva and Anna Danilina, they withdrew just ahead of their second-round encounter. This angered their first-round opponent, Khromacheva, who took to Instagram to slam singles specialists leaving the doubles tournament midway.

Sharing a story on her official Instagram handle, the Russian star said, “Bravo WTA. We lost to singles players in doubles in Beijing tournament… And second round they are pulling out cause they don’t care about doubles… but they continue to play singles this week… Completely crazy by taking place of teams who could enter and participate fully… I had this situation twice this year that when they won first round they pulling out… Without respect to doubles players… And also for people who are signing on-site trying to get in… Very nice rule. Plus tournament loosing one match on the schedule… Respect in WTA tour, no didn’t hear it exists… Crazy.”

Further, this isn’t the first time in the recent past that Badosa has played doubles and withdrawn midway through the tournament. At the Citi Open last month, she pulled out after winning her first-round doubles encounter. Badosa was involved in a similar controversy a few years back as well when she played doubles at the Miami Open.

Paula Badosa irked Marta Kostyuk with her doubles preferences

Back in 2022, Badosa approached Marta Kostyuk to play doubles together at the Miami Open. However, she eventually opted to play with Aryna Sabalenka and this didn’t go down well with the Ukrainian star. Feeling snubbed, Kostyuk expressed her disappointment over this.

She said, “In early March, when we arrived in Indian Wells, it was the first time Paula and I met. She approached me and asked me, how I was, if everything was fine with my family. And that was it. In Indian Wells or in Dubai, I asked her if she would like to play doubles with me because I thought we could do well.”

However, Badosa eventually snubbed Kostyuk and played doubles alongside Aryna Sabalenka in Miami and Stuttgart. “It really surprised me. I realized I would no longer ask her about playing doubles together,” the Ukrainian further added.

Do you think that tennis bodies should introduce some punishment for players withdrawing from doubles and then playing singles in the same week? Or will it be too harsh? Let us know your views in the comments below.