“Definitely taken it in,” Paula Badosa makes shocking admission about her failing body in a heartbreaking interview
The 27-year-old Paula Badosa has been dealing with a chronic injury for quite a while.
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Paula Badosa (Image via X)
Paula Badosa has shared that she may have to end her tennis career early because of a serious back injury. In an emotional interview, the Spanish player stated that she is delaying surgery until she retires. For now, she is trying to keep playing as long as she can.
To deal with the pain, Badosa takes painkillers before matches. She knows that waiting too long for surgery could hurt her health in the future. Even so, she wants to keep playing for a few more years if possible.
I’ve definitely taken it in. Having such a strong character has helped me accept it over time. I know I’m going to retire young and go straight into surgery the next day. I know that from my career and the problems I have with my back.
Paula Badosa said on Eurosport
The 27-year-old says she feels scared every morning because of her back pain. Still, she is not ready to give up. She hopes she can continue until she reaches her early 30s, or unless doctors say she has to stop. Badosa understands that this choice may make her condition worse over time. But her love for tennis keeps her going. She is holding on to the hope that she can finish her career on her own terms.
Paula Badosa insists that the chronic injury will stay ‘forever’
Former World No.2 Paula Badosa has said her back injury will likely stay with her even after she retires from tennis. The pain has become worse over time and now involves her nerves. It affects her daily life and makes it hard for her to live normally off the court.
[It will last] forever, it’s a chronic injury. The thing is that this time is different, I still have the pain on my right side under control, but now it comes suddenly and touches my nerve. It’s like a hernia that has moved, I could play with this, the problem is that it’s touching my nerve. With this, I can’t even lead a normal life. Every day I wake up afraid. I’m not joking to you, this week I had to send messages to Pol (Toledo) at 05:00 in the morning because I couldn’t sleep, I can’t with the question of whether my back will be fine that day or if I will be able to lead a normal life. Mentally it is what is costing me the most.
Paula Badosa said
The stress from not knowing how her back will feel each day is wearing her down. She struggles to sleep and often worries if she will ever live without pain. The fear and uncertainty are mentally exhausting.
She had to pull out of the Madrid Open recently because of the injury. Even with all the pain, she is hoping to recover in time for the French Open. It’s a goal she’s holding on to. Despite everything, Badosa keeps fighting. Her strength and determination continue to inspire many fans. She remains hopeful and focused, even in the face of so much hardship.
Paula Badosa recalls her comparisons with Maria Sharapova
Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa has shared how tough the early years of her career were. After winning the junior title at Roland Garros in 2015, many compared her to Maria Sharapova. Badosa looked up to Sharapova, so these comparisons felt huge. It made her feel like she had already reached the top, even though her journey had just begun.
Well, look, it may be surprising, but it happened to me as a junior, when I won Roland Garros in 2015. People started calling me ‘the new Sharapova,’ someone who was my idol, and a stylish girl on top of that. I remember thinking at the time, ‘This is super easy, they’re telling me I’ll make it into the top 10 next year, and a ton of sponsors will be coming soon.’ At the time, I thought I was God, which is why it was so hard for me to make the jump to professional tennis.
Paula Badosa added
She said those early labels shaped her path too soon. The pressure to match Sharapova’s success was heavy. When things didn’t go as expected, it affected her deeply. It pushed her close to a mental breakdown more than once.
Badosa’s back problems have made things worse. These injuries even forced her to skip the Madrid Open. She said if the pain continues, she may have to think about retiring from tennis. Still, she’s not giving up yet. Her main goal now is to be fit for Roland Garros. Badosa still dreams of winning a Grand Slam before she retires. She hopes her body allows her to chase that dream.
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