Battling inner demons, Paula Badosa’s resurgence is a testament to her fighting spirit. Back in 2019, she said, “I have never been ashamed to say this: I’ve had mental health issues,” as she faced early career pressures. From a rising star to dropping outside the top 100 in early 2024, she struggled both mentally and physically. Not to mention her back injury in 2023 didn’t make it easier. Then her comeback gained momentum, with her first win at Washington DC, and her consistent reach in quarters and semis at tournaments earned her WTA Comeback Player of the Year in 2024! Rising above adversity, Badosa’s journey fuels her coach’s high aspirations for her.
Speaking to Eurosport on April 27, Pol Toledo Bague, who joined her coaching team in 2021, expressed immense admiration for her unwavering dedication to her career goals. He highlights her successful transition to professional tennis, evidenced by her reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in April 2022 and consistently being in the top 10, currently holding the number 9 ranking as of March 31.
Her dream of winning a Grand Slam is further underscored by her semifinal appearance at the 2025 Australian Open, where she defeated higher-ranked players like Coco Gauff. Demonstrating the “clear goal” and hard work Toledo refers to, “She’s worked hard for it, she’s carried out her dream of becoming a professional, breaking into the top 10, and winning a Grand Slam. That perspective overrides everything.”
Oct 17, 2021; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Paula Badosa (ESP) reacts after winning a point as she defeated Victoria Azarenka (BLR) in the womenÕs final of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
However, this journey has coincided with well-documented mental health struggles. Early in her professional career, after winning the 2015 French Open junior title, the ensuing pressure led to a battle with depression, which she openly discussed in 2019. The weight of being touted as the “next Maria Sharapova” created immense anxiety.
Despite these internal battles – and as Toledo notes, “At the time, I wasn’t even with her, but no matter how much she suffered during those stages, she had such a clear goal that she worked her hardest to achieve it” – she persevered. She eventually broke into the top 100 in 2019. Not to mention, achieved significant milestones like winning her first WTA title in Belgrade in 2021 and a prestigious WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells later that same year. These victories came despite the mental challenges she faced, showcasing the “hardest” work.
Even her comeback journey in 2024, which earned her the WTA Comeback Player of the Year award after finishing the year at No. 12 (having been outside the top 65 earlier in the year due to injury), speaks to her resilience. This comeback paved the way for her strong performance at the 2025 Australian Open.
Additionally, she showed her support to fellow players with mental health struggles as well. This year, during the Dubai Championships, Andrey Rublev opened up about his own journey and how he overcame it. To which Paula wrote back on X, “So much respect for you @AndreyRublev97 Listening to all this really moves me and I know how much pain it is. This will only make you stronger at the end of the day. I’m glad you’re feeling better. thanks for speaking up.” It’s this energy that makes her a favorite amongst fans and players alike.
Coming into 2025, her momentum was highlighted by a stunning semifinal run at the 2025 Australian Open, where she defeated Gauff. She now stands at the No. 9 position in the WTA rankings with a win-loss record of 12/7 so far this year. While she’s yet to win her first grand slam since turning pro in 2015, her progress shows she’s not far from it!.
But in the meantime, recovery is the most important part. Her withdrawal from Madrid is a step in the right direction, as hard as it may have been. And her coach certainly believes in her, not only did he say, “I can only admire what she’s doing, whether she achieves things or not, you know she’s always going to fight.” but he also posted a touching story to his social media.
Paula’s coach gives her a boost of confidence following withdrawal
Badosa broke Spanish hearts on April 25, announcing her last-minute withdrawal from the Mutua Madrid Open. She took to Instagram with a heartfelt message: “I wanted to let you know that unfortunately I won’t be able to play Mutua Madrid Open. I’ve tried to do everything possible until the last moment because you know how excited I am to play at home, but it’s being a complicated injury. I hope to be 100% soon.”
Her coach quickly responded with a powerful message on his own Instagram story. He shared a picture of Paula and wrote, “Resilience is understood as the ability of the human being to face the adversities of life, overcome them and be positively transformed by them.” Paula replied right back, “Thank you coach we will be back stronger like we always did @pol.toledo.” Talk about a team that’s got each other’s backs!
Badosa’s back problems have been a saga. The trouble really started in the second half of 2023, when a lower back stress fracture forced her to cut her season short. She even had to withdraw from her US Open match against Venus Williams, admitting, “the pain is not letting me move forward.” Since then, the injury has lingered, flaring up again in Miami this March and now keeping her off the Madrid clay.
Now, with the French Open fast approaching on May 25, all eyes are on Paula. Can she bounce back in time to light up Roland-Garros? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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