Paula Badosa continued her comeback from injury with an impressive victory at the Washington Open, a WTA 500 event and warmup event for the US Open. Entering the draw as a wildcard, the Spaniard ousted Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin and Emma Raducanu en route to the final, where she outlasted Czechia’s Marie Bouzkova in a tight three-set encounter. Badosa hit five aces and won nearly 80% of points on her first serve, putting in a solid performance to get the win. It is Badosa’s fourth career title, and her first since the series of injuries that saw her fall out of the world’s top 100. Speaking with reporters after her victory in Washington, Badosa reflected on these struggles: ‘Especially what I went through the last year, for me being back, winning big titles like a 500, winning against the best players this the world, being competitive against them again, for me it means a lot.’
Injuries and Comebacks: Badosa’s Determination
Just a few years ago, Badosa was among the world’s best female players. Her triumph at Indian Wells in 2021 was especially impressive, leading her to a career-high ranking of world number 2. That same year, she achieved her best Grand Slam result – a quarterfinal showing at Roland Garros – and became a leading contender for future tournaments. However, these aspirations were derailed by injuries, including a serious back injury and a stress fracture that left Badosa sidelined for nearly three months.
Since then, the comeback trail has not been easy. Badosa failed to reach the quarterfinals at her first eleven tournaments this year, and was forced to retire from two matches due to injury. After pulling out of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in April due to pain in her leg, Badosa reportedly considered retirement, fearing that her injuries would prevent her from reaching the highest levels of tennis once more. However, she found her form on the grass, reaching the fourth round of Wimbledon with a hard-fought win over former top-10 player, Daria Kasatkina. Badosa described the result as ‘the most special’ of her career, admitting that ‘a few months ago I didn’t know if I would be able to play tennis anymore.’ Her victory in Washington completes the fairy-tale comeback, and makes the Spaniard a formidable contender for the rest of the season. In particular, all eyes will be on her at this month’s US Open, where she will seek to translate her momentum into a deep run at the season’s final Slam.
Tsitsidosa: A Tennis Romance
Off the court, Badosa is best known for her relationship with ATP player Stefanos Tsitsipas. The pair began dating in May 2023, and enjoyed a high-profile relationship before parting ways one year later. However, they reunited shortly after, and were due to compete together in the mixed doubles event at this year’s French Open, but withdrew before their first round match. Describing his decision to get back together, Tsitsipas admitted that ‘the relationship I have with Paula is completely different from any other relationship I have had in the past.’ The pair have been seen together regularly since then – including on a trip to Monte Carlo after the Wimbledon Championships – and have featured on each other’s social media accounts. Like Badosa, Tsitsipas has been regaining his top form this season, and tennis fans will be eagerly following both players’ progress over the coming months.
Badosa and Tsitipas pictued at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, March 2024.
