- A stress fracture in her back led some doctors to advise Badosa’s retirement
- He receives regular cortisone injections to control pain and be able to compete.
A few months after considering quitting the sport, Paula Badosa is into her first US Open quarter-final. Despite being just 26, a stress fracture in her back has led some doctors to advise her to retire and only with regular cortisone injections to manage the pain can she compete.
Badosa, who spent the first seven years of her life in Manhattan before her Spanish parents moved to Barcelona, beat China’s Yafan Wang 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round on Sunday.
“A few months ago I was thinking about quitting the sport because I stopped believing in myself and my injury wasn’t responding,” Badosa said. “So to come back (to this level) is a dream come true.”
‘At that time, I was in pain every day when I woke up. So for me it didn’t make sense. For me, with all due respect, tennis doesn’t make sense 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 is into her first US Open quarterfinal 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 No. 29 will surely be on a big stage tomorrow, most likely Arthur Ashe, when she takes on the winner of Sunday afternoon’s All-American clash between Emma Navarro and defending champion Coco Gauff.
“It will be my first time in Ashe,” Badosa said. “It will also be my first time in the quarterfinals here. I like these kinds of challenges. I was born to play on big stages.”
Badosa has never lacked confidence and if her body can continue to cooperate there is no reason why she cannot return to the top 10 in the world.
