Paula Badosa Shares Deeply Emotional Message After Dropping Out of Top 100: “I Feel Lost in a Sea of Emotions”

Paula Badosa has yet to win two consecutive matches in a tournament this year.

Paula Badosa Shares Deeply Emotional Message After Dropping Out of Top 100: “I Feel Lost in a Sea of Emotions”

Paula Badosa (Image via X/Tiempo De Tenis)

In Short
  • Paula Badosa has dropped out of the top 100 in the live rankings after struggling with a chronic injury.
  • She expressed her emotional turmoil on social media, feeling overwhelmed by fear and self-doubt.
  • Badosa is actively working on her mental health, speaking with a psychologist daily to cope with her challenges.

Paula Badosa is fighting in spite of dealing with the pain of a chronic injury. She was last seen in action at the Miami Open, where her run was ended by Iva Jovic in the second round with a 6-2, 6-1 scoreline.

Badosa has dropped out of the top 100 in the live rankings. The Spaniard, a former World No.2, has yet to win two matches in a row in a tournament this year. Amidst her poor run of form, Badosa took to Instagram story and penned a deeply emotional message.

Fear, f***ing fear. How brutal it is. Sometimes I feel like I can’t control the voices inside me. The emotions are too much, and I find myself overwhelmed. Doubts take hold of me, and I feel lost in a sea of emotions.

The last time Badosa won two singles matches in the same tournament was back in last year’s Berlin Open in June. Before Miami, she featured in a WTA 125 event in Austin and made the semifinals, only to lose in three sets to eventual runner-up Bianca Andreescu.

There’s one thing I’m clear about… I’ll always try with all my strength. I’ll do whatever it takes. I won’t be remembered for winning the most titles, but I want to be remembered for this. For these moments. For showing that Paula was able to come through. Because once again, I’m going to prove that I can come through. It’ll be really tough, but I promise I’ll keep going until I do.

Paula Badosa added

Next is the clay swing. Badosa was forced to skip both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open last year. In the Strasbourg Open, she reached the quarterfinals, while at the French Open, her campaign ended in the third round.

She has so far won one clay-court title- the 2021 Serbia Open by beating Ana Konjuh. At Roland Garros, Badosa produced her best performance when she reached the quarterfinals in 2021.

Paula Badosa says she speaks to a psychologist every day

Tennis is considered a mental sport, and Paula Badosa, who is playing through her chronic injury, is working a lot on the mental side. During her interview with CLAY, Badosa said she has been talking to her psychologist several times a day.

Paula Badosa
Paula Badosa (Image via X/Paula Badosa)

I do many different therapies, but above all, I speak with my psychologist daily: in the morning, in the middle of the day, at night. In the end, is my key person. This sport is already very mental, and having to accept moments when my body is not as agile and does not respond as well is difficult. This is what I am suffering the most. Tennis is very emotional.

The last time Badosa won a title was at the 2024 Citi Open. Last year, she also reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, losing the match to her best friend and eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka. At the start of the 2024 season, Badosa said her doctors told her that competing at the highest level is nearly impossible, so she thought playing “three or four more years would be incredible“.

Badosa has so far played four singles finals, winning all of them. She has one Big Title to her name, winning the 2021 Indian Wells by defeating Victoria Azarenka. The last time she reached a semifinal of a WTA 1000 tournament was at the 2024 China Open.

Last year, in the WTA 1000 events, the 28-year-old featured in just four of these events and reached her best result, the fourth round, at the Miami Open.

Also read: Elena Rybakina Opens Up on Rivarly with Aryna Sabalenka: “It has been close”