“She has earned the right,” Paula Badosa defends Garbine Muguruza’s decision to stay away from the sport despite being injury free

Paula Badosa defends Garbine Muguruza on her extended break away from the sport since January 2023.

Paula Badosa and Garbine Muguruza ( Credits: Sportstar- The Hindu, Eurosport)

World No.66, Paula Badosa, is all set to lead the Spanish team in the Billie Jean King Cup, scheduled to be held in Seville this year. The Spanish player has largely been away from the courts due to her back injury. In a recent interview via Elpais, the tennis professional expressed her views on Garbine Muguruza and her extended break from the sport.

In an interview, the girlfriend of Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas backed inactive Spanish-Venezuelan player Garbine Muguruza from staying away from the sport despite not having any sort of injury. As per the 25-year-old herself, Muguruza has achieved everything in her professional career and has earned the right to do whatever she thinks is fit for her and her physical well-being. Paula Badosa stated:

She is a player who has achieved absolutely everything, the best Spanish player along with Arantxa Sanchez Vicario & Conchita Martinez, so she has earned the right to do whatever she wants.

For context, Garbine Muguruza, a two-time Grand Slam title champion, has spent quite a long time away from the sport. The former World No. 1 won Wimbledon and the French Open to establish her name in the tennis fraternity. Talking about how she has been an influence in her life, Paula Badosa further mentioned:

Garbine Muguruza makes me very sad because for me she has been a reference. I loved how she played & I wanted to be like her. I would really like her to be here now, with us (for Billie Jean King Cup).

With that being said, there is no denying that tennis can be a rough sport and can mentally break players down due to the constant traveling and practice routines. Muguruza, ever since her time away from the sport, has looked happy and content in her personal life. Speaking about her break from the sport, Paula Badosa further added:

I see she’s very happy & enjoying herself, something that didn't happen when she played. Having won two slams in her career, she has every right to make decisions that will benefit her at this stage.

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Garbine Muguruza has no intentions of returning to the sport as of now

The two-time Grand Slam title champion, Garbine Muguruza, played her last match at the Lyon Open earlier this year. However, the Spanish-Venezuelan player has been inactive ever since. Although she had hinted towards making a comeback in 2024, according to an earlier interview, she hasn’t really thought about returning to the tennis courts at all.

Garbine Muguruza, currently ranked World No. 1038, mentioned how her top priority was to let her body rest and spend some time with her close ones. After a series of unsuccessful tournaments since the beginning of the year, Garbine seemed to stay off the court, and her break has been extended for an even longer period of time. She said:

As of today, I have no intention of returning to competition. My plan right now is to sleep, rest, be with my loved ones, and recover lost time. I don’t see beyond what I’m doing today, tomorrow, and this week. I’m truly taking a break and trying to stay away from the courts.

With that being said, it will be pretty interesting to see whether Muguruza can actually make her return to the professional setting to bag yet another Grand Slam and challenge the up-and-rising tennis players.