Paula Badosa, the Spanish tennis star and former world number two, has been dealt another crushing blow in her 2025 season, withdrawing from the US Open due to a persistent back injury. The announcement, made on August 8, 2025, marks a heartbreaking setback for the 27-year-old, who has been sidelined since a first-round loss at Wimbledon on June 30. Badosa’s absence from the final Grand Slam of the year, set to begin on August 24 in New York, dims hopes of her repeating or surpassing her 2024 quarterfinal run at Flushing Meadows. Her emotional reflections, shared hours before the withdrawal, reveal a player grappling with adversity yet determined to fight on.
Badosa’s 2025 season began with promise. A semifinal appearance at the Australian Open in January, her deepest Grand Slam run, signaled a triumphant return to the top 10 after a 2023 season marred by a stress fracture in her lower back that saw her ranking plummet to 145. Her resilience shone through in 2024, with a title at the Mubadala Citi DC Open and strong showings in Cincinnati and Beijing. However, a tear in her psoas muscle, which connects the lower back to the leg, sustained before Wimbledon, derailed her progress. “It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my withdrawal from this year’s U.S. Open,” Badosa shared on social media. “This decision was incredibly difficult to make. After the amazing run I had in New York last year and the deep connection I feel with the city and its fans, stepping away from this tournament is very emotional for me.”
The injury, which forced her to miss the Washington Open, Canadian Open, and Cincinnati Open, has proven relentless. Badosa’s first-round defeat to Britain’s Katie Boulter at Wimbledon (6-2, 3-6, 6-4) was a painful indicator of her struggles, as she battled visible discomfort. Her withdrawal from the US Open, where she was also slated to compete in mixed doubles with Britain’s Jack Draper after parting ways with former partner Stefanos Tsitsipas amid breakup rumors, underscores the severity of her condition. “These are really challenging times for me, but I’m staying hopeful that things will turn around soon,” she said, expressing a flicker of optimism despite the setback.
In a poignant Instagram post hours before her announcement, Badosa reflected on her journey through adversity. “I wasn’t built by easy days,” she wrote. “I was shaped by the moments that broke me, the choices that didn’t go as planned, and the times I fell short of who I wanted to be. My setbacks weren’t signs that I was weak; they were necessary chapters in a story that’s still being written.” These words, raw and introspective, reveal a player who has faced thoughts of retirement but remains driven by resilience. “Failure taught me what success never could,” she added, highlighting how her struggles have forged a stronger, wiser competitor.
The US Tennis Association confirmed that Switzerland’s Jil Teichmann will replace Badosa in the women’s singles draw, with France’s Alizé Cornet, who returned to action in 2025 after retiring in 2024, next in line should another withdrawal occur. Badosa’s absence is a significant loss for the tournament, which concludes with the women’s final on September 6. Her 2024 US Open performance, where she reached the quarterfinals, had cemented her as a fan favorite and a dangerous contender. Her powerful baseline game and fiery spirit endeared her to New York crowds, making her withdrawal all the more poignant. “The US Open has always meant a great deal to me, and I have created some of my most special memories there,” she said, underscoring her emotional connection to the event.
Badosa’s injury woes reflect a broader challenge in women’s tennis, where a packed schedule has led to a string of high-profile withdrawals. Her journey back to the top, marked by a career-high ranking of number two in 2022, has been a testament to her talent and determination, but recurring injuries have tested her resolve. As she focuses on recovery, Badosa’s words resonate with hope: “I’m not proud of every moment in my past, but I am proud of the person those moments created.” With fans and peers rallying behind her, the Spaniard’s story is far from over, and her vow to return stronger promises an inspiring comeback.
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