- A stress fracture in his back led some doctors to advise Badosa to retire
- She receives regular cortisone injections to manage the pain and enable her to compete.
A few months after considering quitting the sport, Paula Badosa is in her first US Open quarterfinal. Despite being only 26 years old, some doctors advised her to retire due to a stress fracture in her back. Only regular cortisone injections to manage the pain allow her to continue playing.
Badosa, who lived the first seven years of her life in Manhattan before her Spanish parents moved to Barcelona, defeated China’s Yafan Wang 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round on Sunday.
“A few months ago I thought about quitting this sport because I didn’t believe in myself anymore and my injury wasn’t responding,” Badosa said. “So to be back (at this level) is a dream come true.
‘At that point, I woke up every day in pain. So for me, it was pointless. For me, with all due respect, tennis is pointless if I’m not at the top. I want to play on big stages. I want to play the last rounds of every tournament. I want to be one of the best players in the world.’
Paula Badosa reaches US Open quarterfinals for the first time, just months after considering retirement
The 26-year-old defeated China’s Yafan Wang 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round on Sunday
The world number 29 will undoubtedly be on a big stage tomorrow – Arthur Ashe at least – when she takes on the winner of Sunday afternoon’s American match between Emma Navarro and defending champion Coco Gauff.
“It’s going to be my first time at Ashe,” Badosa said. “It’s also going to be my first time in a quarterfinal here. I love these kinds of challenges. I was born to play on big stages.”
Badosa has never lacked confidence and if her body continues to cooperate, there is no reason why she shouldn’t return to the world’s top 10.