The year 2023 has not been easy for Paula Badosa. After a hopeful start, in which she reached the semifinals of the WTA 500 in Adelaide 2, an injury to her right thigh prevented her from participating in the Australian Open. After that, and after feeling better again in Charleston (quarterfinals), Stuttgart (quarterfinals), Madrid (round of 16) and Rome (quarterfinals), everything was cut short definitively. A stress fracture in the L4 vertebra occurred in the Italian WTA 1,000 marked the unofficial end of her season. She returned to play at Wimbledon, but, after winning in her debut, she was forced to quit in her second match, when she was playing against Marta Kostyuk.
“Being able to compete for a whole year is what would allow me to fight to once again be one of the best in the world”
Badosa, in GulfNews
Since that day at the All England Club, July 7, Badosa, who has fallen to 64th position in the ranking, has not played an official match. “We have tried everything together with my team, but the pain is not letting me move forward,” he said when announcing that he would not be in the US Open either. Afterwards, she tried to return for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals. She was called up, but could not play any matches. It was not until this week, at the World Tennis League, an exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, that she saw Paula competing again on a tennis court. Furthermore, without any type of physical problem, at a good level and transmitting happiness.
I needed it. “They have been very hard months for me, but little by little I am feeling better. The most important thing is that, finally, I am enjoying myself on a tennis court again, something that a month ago I couldn’t do because I wasn’t even able to go out,” Badosa declared for the Emirati media outlet GulfNews while competing in the exhibition “I need to play all possible matches. I know I have to go little by little, start slowly and with low expectations. My ranking has dropped a lot, but it has been due to an injury, something I cannot control. Now, my big goal is to be healthy. Being able to compete for an entire year without major injuries would be key and is what would allow me to fight with guarantees to once again be one of the best in the world,” she added.
“She is a fighter”
In total, in 2023, Badosa has only been able to play 27 games, with the semifinals in Adelaide as the best result. In the World Tennis League, despite not playing individual matches, this week, she has shown a good level. Above all, next to her current romantic partner, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, with whom she won the two duels she shared. In both, also, with quality players in front (Daniil Medvedev along with Sofia Kenin and Mirra Andreeva). “Paula has helped me overcome several moments successfully. I have a great competitor and a fighter by my side pushing me,” the Greek dedicated to the Spanish woman after the last one, aware of everything she has suffered this year. 2024, for now, she presents herself with renewed hopes.
Follow the Diario AS channel on WhatsApp, where you will find all the sports keys of the day.
2023-12-25 08:59:39
#Badosa #begins #light #hard #months
