Players’ Voice | Paula Badosa: “People have to see that athletes are not robots”

The Spaniard reflects on her achievements, the role her resilience has had to play in them, and why it’s so important for athletes to speak up about their own struggles with mental health.

“There are many people who say that they want to be the best in the world, of course. But my dream has always been to win a Grand Slam, to live the moment of winning a great tournament, and it is my dream today, it is my motivation to wake up every day, do it one day, hopefully win a Grand Slam.

2021 was a very important year for me and a positive step in achieving that dream. I think I’d hit a bit of a barrier of making semi-finals only, so winning my first tournament in Belgrade was a joy and it took a weight off my shoulders. That gave me a lot of confidence and I think that was when everything sort of clicked; my tennis improved and I grew mentally.

In 2021, getting my first WTA title (in Belgrade) was very important, I think that like any athlete, I had a barrier in the semifinals, that I hadn’t quite taken the step of winning a title, I really wanted to do it, and that too it stopped me, and it was apart from a joy to take a weight off me. That helped me click and gave me a lot of confidence, and from then on my tennis improved and mentally I grew.

A few months later I won Indian Wells, which was a dream come true. It is not a Grand Slam, but it is a WTA 1000 and a very important tournament. The final against Victoria Azarenka was something spectacular. Sometimes in a final nerves can stop you from having a good game, but we both played at a very high level and it meant even more to beat a player like her.

Badosa defeated Azarenka 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-6(2)

The biggest learning I got from that game is the realization of my own mental strength. You will never stop having difficult moments on the track: there are always fears and it is a constant battle, so knowing that you can overcome those fears is really important. The fear of losing can kill you and there is no easy solution, it is a process that you just have to follow. I think the key is to just face your fears, no matter how hard you have it, and just trust that the bad times won’t define you.

I would also recommend always surrounding yourself with the right people because when you are unsure of your performance and experiencing challenges, it is very important to talk about it, especially with mental health professionals such as psychologists and coaches. Few people can move forward if they internalize negative thoughts and feelings. Thanks to athletes like Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, and Álex Abrines, there has been a lot of talk recently about athletes’ personal experiences of mental health. I think those conversations are very important because in the end, mental health has to normalize. People have to see that athletes are not robots. We’re going to try to give 100%, but that’s not realistic 100% of the time.

Social media has been great at fueling those conversations, but it can also be dangerous at times with the scrutiny it generates. When I think about young players like Emma Raducanu and Carlos Alcaraz, I want them to try not to pay too much attention to what they can see there because it can hurt them a lot. No matter how well they perform on the tennis court, I worry that they are not yet ready to handle all the weight and pressures that inevitably come with social media. I have experienced it myself and I would not want others to experience it, but ultimately it is part of tennis and it is the price to pay for success. I have a good relationship with Carlos and we talk constantly, so if I had to give him any advice it would be that you need to have a good environment, surround yourself with the right people, work hard and listen to the outside world a little. You can’t control the outside, but what is under your control, just try to do your best.

Rafa Nadal is the benchmark for me. He is hardworking, fighter and has a great mentality. I admire him more and more. Results-wise, I’m never going to get close to him, but now I’m among the best in the world, I can understand the pressures you have when you’re at that level and I can see how well he handles it. It seems to me that he is not from this planet mentally and that is even more inspiring. It has always been an example that I have looked at when I have faced difficult moments and if I want to emulate someone, it is Rafa Nadal.

I think it’s very important to find time for yourself during tournaments to properly unwind. I used to stay in the hotel room, but now I try to explore the cities I stay in and learn about their culture. Since we travel all year round and play tennis most days, being cooped up in a hotel room is not healthy or good for anyone. I like to do simple things because I don’t usually have time to lead a normal life. When I’m in Madrid, for example, I like to go shopping and go to the cinema and restaurants. Those are big events for me!

Going back to Spain is especially special now because of the love I receive from the fans… I get goosebumps just thinking about this recognition. I work very hard and have endured a lot to get to where I am, so having your support makes it all worth it. What has happened to me in the last 12 months is honestly incredible and I’m still not sure I realize how much I’ve achieved, but I live day by day and try to value and accept the goals I’ve achieved so far.”

Follow Paula Badosa on Instagram (@paulabadosa) and Twitter (@paulabadosa).