In the sun-drenched city of Huelva, Spain, the tennis world witnessed yet another poignant chapter in Paula Badosa’s ongoing struggle with chronic injuries. The former World No. 2, once a beacon of promise on the WTA Tour, was forced to retire from the Copa de la Reina exhibition match on July 12, 2025, after a valiant effort against compatriot Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. The match, part of Spain’s prestigious Queen’s Cup event, was meant to mark Badosa’s triumphant return to competitive play following a series of setbacks. Instead, it became a somber reminder of the physical and emotional toll her recurring back injury continues to exact.
Badosa, now 27, took to the court with high hopes, facing World No. 62 Bouzas Maneiro in a spirited contest. The first set was a showcase of her resilience, as she battled through a tightly contested tiebreak to claim a 7-6 victory, igniting cheers from the hometown crowd. But as the second set loomed, physical discomfort became evident. Visibly struggling, Badosa made the heart-wrenching decision to withdraw, unable to continue due to pain in her lower back—a persistent issue that has haunted her career since a stress fracture in her L4 vertebra in 2023. Taking the microphone, she addressed the fans with raw emotion: “Thanks to the organization for counting on me this year. I also thank Jessica for coming today and all of you for your support. I’ve been dealing with injury problems for a while, and your support is important.” Her words, tinged with gratitude and frustration, underscored the gravity of her ongoing battle.
The Spaniard’s injury woes are not new. Since her meteoric rise to No. 2 in 2022, when she clinched the Indian Wells title and reached the French Open quarterfinals, Badosa’s career has been plagued by a relentless back injury. The 2023 season was particularly brutal, with a stress fracture forcing her to miss the second half of the year, including Roland Garros and the US Open. She returned in 2024 with a flicker of hope, earning the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award after reaching the US Open quarterfinals and winning the Washington Open. Yet, 2025 has been a rollercoaster. A semifinal run at the Australian Open briefly restored her to the top 10, but retirements in Mérida, Berlin, Miami, and now Huelva have seen her ranking slip to No. 11. “I’m going through a very tough time,” she admitted after the Huelva match, a sentiment echoed by her earlier confession: “I’m so tired of this.”
Badosa’s journey has been as much mental as physical. She has openly shared the toll of waking up in pain daily, with a herniated disc pressing on her nerve, causing sleepless nights and constant fear. In a candid interview earlier this year, she revealed contemplating retirement: “I know that I am going to retire young, and the next day I will go straight to the operating room.” Despite doctors warning that continuing her career could require regular cortisone injections—a risky long-term solution—she remains defiant. “I’m stubborn, so I won’t retire unless the doctors tell me to,” she told Eurosport, highlighting her determination to fight on. Her team, including her rekindled partnership with her 2021 coaching staff, has been a pillar of support, helping her navigate the emotional lows of a career interrupted by injury.
The Huelva exhibition was meant to be a celebration of Spanish tennis, with the men’s King’s Cup match featuring Daniil Medvedev against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina following Badosa’s withdrawal. The fans, who had hoped to see their homegrown star shine, were left disheartened but rallied behind her with messages of encouragement. “Paula, we know it’s hard, but you need to fight another time,” one supporter wrote online, reflecting the tennis community’s admiration for her resilience. Another fan called her a “warrior,” urging her to stay strong despite the setbacks.
As Badosa looks ahead, her immediate focus is recovery, with no clear timeline for her return. The clay-court season looms, and she has expressed hope of competing in Rome, a tournament where she reached the quarterfinals in 2024. Her past triumphs, including her 2015 French Open junior title and four WTA singles titles, fuel her belief in a comeback. Yet, the specter of surgery and early retirement looms large. “I’m still very far from my level, but hopefully I can be there soon,” she said after a brief pain-free stint in Strasbourg earlier this year. For now, Badosa’s story is one of courage in the face of adversity, a testament to her unyielding spirit as she battles to reclaim her place among tennis’s elite.
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