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Paula Badosa, Spain’s top tennis player, has made a confession that no fan wanted to hear: she will retire early. Not because she wants to, but because her body is forcing her to. In an emotional, soul-baring interview with Eurosport before leaving Madrid, the 27-year-old revealed the full extent of her chronic back injury — and the cruel reality she’s learning to live with.
“It’s forever, it’s a chronic injury,” she said.“I know I’ll retire young, and the next day I’ll go straight into surgery.”
“My normal life was a disaster, honestly — I couldn’t even move from the couch.”
Seeded ninth at the Mutua Madrid Open, Badosa was forced to withdraw from her second-round match due to the persistent lower back injury. In an interview with the WTA, she opened up about the difficulty of the situation:
“It’s been a tough injury, honestly, this one because it was totally different from the last one. It was an injury that was touching the nerves, so I was constantly having pain.”
She went on to describe the impact it had on her everyday life:
“My normal life was a disaster, honestly — I couldn’t even move from the couch.”
Everything took a turn for the worse in Miami
Talking to Eurosport, Badosa recalled the moment everything changed: Miami. One sharp nerve jolt. An invisible dagger to her back. She was forced to go weeks without touching a racket. Even daily tasks became impossible. And though she’s now able to train in short bursts thanks to medications, her future is clouded with uncertainty.
“In Miami, I felt the big blow — like a sharp jolt. Since then, I’ve spent almost four weeks unable to do anything, not tennis, not even normal life. I spent the first few days in Monaco, and I remember I couldn’t even watch TV because I couldn’t find a position to sit without pain. The first injection didn’t do anything at all — I was desperate. That’s when I was really in bad shape. The second injection took the pain away, it allowed me to live normally, and that’s when I slowly started training and going to the gym again.”
“Every day I wake up afraid.”
Perhaps the most heart-wrenching part of the interview is Paula’s confession about the mental toll. The fear is constant. She admitted texting her coach, Pol Toledo, at 5:00 AM on restless nights. The pain is not just physical — it’s the mental wear of never knowing if she’ll feel strong enough to walk onto the court… or walk at all.
“Every day I wake up afraid. I’m not joking — this week I had to message Pol (Toledo) at 5:00 in the morning because I couldn’t sleep. I can’t cope with the uncertainty of whether my back will be okay that day or if I’ll be able to live normally. Mentally, that’s what’s been hardest for me.”
Paula won’t give up
Despite everything, Paula is not quitting. Not yet.
She knows the injections that ease the pain are harmful. She knows the risks are high. She knows that every match she plays could make things worse. But she’s stubborn — and fiercely passionate.
“I have no other choice, I’m very stubborn. For me to retire, the doctors would have to tell me… and I am in daily contact with them. I have told him many times: until you operate on me and there is no longer a solution, I will continue with the injections, even knowing how bad they feel for me and how harmful they are to the body.”
Grand Slam dream still alive
Paula still dreams of winning a Grand Slam. She came close once, reaching the 2025 Australian Open semifinals, and that taste has never left her.
“For me it’s an obsession. I’ve never said it like this before, but it is.”
Even if she knows retirement may be near, her hunger hasn’t faded. In fact, it burns brighter than ever.
“People don’t know what I’m going through.”
Paula opened up about the criticism she’s faced regarding her frequent withdrawals from tournaments. She expressed her frustration, noting that people often don’t understand the immense physical and emotional challenges she endures just to get through a single training session.
When asked about the constant remarks regarding her withdrawals, she admitted that it bothers her deeply. She explained that while she doesn’t mind being criticized for other aspects of her career, this particular comment hurts because people have no idea what she’s going through with her team behind the scenes. The physical toll and the sacrifices they’re making to keep her playing aren’t visible to the public, and that, she says, is something that really frustrates her.
One day, Paula Badosa will walk away from tennis, but with her head held high, knowing she gave it absolutely everything.
