Paula Badosa has shared a heartfelt message with fans after her recent setback at the China Open in Beijing. The former World No. 2 suffered another injury during her return to competitive tennis, pointing toward the consistent struggles that have disrupted her 2025 season.
Badosa returned to professional tennis at the China Open after three months away from competition. Her last match was a first-round loss to Katie Boulter at Wimbledon. The Spaniard won her first match in months, beating Antonia Ružić in the second round.
What Happened During Paula Badosa’s Return to the WTA Tour at the China Open?
During her match against Czech player Karolína Muchová on September 28, Badosa had to retire while trailing 4-2 in the first set, ending her return campaign. She took a medical timeout for a left thigh and groin injury but could not continue, leaving the court in tears after just 35 minutes.
Now, a couple of days after the retirement, Badosa shared a message on her Instagram story about fighting through difficult moments. “There are times when I ask myself how I manage to keep going through the toughest, most painful moments,” she wrote. “Every setback hurts, but it also reminds me how badly I want to fight, how much I want to come back stronger.”
She thanked her supporters and said, “I wouldn’t be able to do this without the people who continue to believe in me. Your support carries me when things get heavy.” The message ended with her promise: “No matter how many obstacles come my way, I will keep fighting, I will keep pushing, and I will keep finding my way back. See you in 2026.”
In her message, Badosa expressed gratitude to the fans who support her during matches, even when she doubts herself. The Spaniard’s 2025 season has been badly disrupted by a psoas tear, the muscle connecting the lower back to the leg. The injury started during the quarterfinals of the Merida Open in February and has forced many tournament withdrawals.
Badosa revealed in July that she would be out for weeks due to the injury, describing it as “really challenging times.” This setback came after her strong 2024 comeback when she won the WTA Comeback Player of the Year.
The 27-year-old had to withdraw from several major events, including Indian Wells in March, where she won her biggest career title in 2021. She also missed the entire North American swing, including the US Open, where she reached the quarterfinals last year.
Badosa started 2025 well by reaching the Australian Open semifinals, but the back problems have made regular competition difficult, and her ranking has dropped to World No. 18 due to limited match play.
