Paula Badosa gives health update after revealing early retirement plan
Paula Badosa has been plagued by back problems but was able to return to the court ahead of the French Open.
Spanish tennis ace Paula Badosa announced her return to competition "pain-free" after scoring a quarterfinal berth at the Strasbourg Open.
The 27-year-old, who has admitted she may have to retire from tennis prematurely due to a chronic back injury, was tied with Marie Bouzkova at 3-3 in their first set when the Czech competitor had to bow out due to injury. Having triumphed over a persistent back condition, Badosa has clawed her way back into the elite top 10 global rankings.
After a season marred by injuries, January saw her charge into the Australian Open semifinals, where she fell to eventual title-holder Aryna Sabalenka. A setback ensued, as back pain forced her to exit the Madrid Open, casting shadows over her French Open prospects.
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Yet Badosa made a timely return to play in Paris, and subsequent to the unexpected cessation of her match against Bouzkova, shared an uplifting interview, despite conceding that she is not in peak condition.
"I'm happy to be back after two months," Badosa asserted. "It was tough. It was a tough journey. I'm still very far from my level, but hopefully I can be there soon."
In discussing her recent setback, Badosa revealed it took a toll, particularly as it came at a high point in her career, saying: "This time for me, mentally, it hurt.
"Because I think I was playing the best tennis of my life. I was playing very well. Physically, I was feeling very well also. Stopping like this was tough for me. Finally, I'm back pain-free."
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Her comments come just a few weeks after she confessed that her persistent back issue might hasten her retirement from professional tennis. Badosa, who regularly relies on painkillers to manage her condition, also disclosed that she plans to postpone any surgical intervention until she retires, concerned about the potential long-term effects.
"I know that I am going to retire young, and the next day I will go straight to the operating room," she told Eurosport. "I know this from the race I'm in and from the problems I have with my back. If they tell me to stop at 30 or 32, then fine, but if I can endure it in some way, then I'm going to try."
