"I'm going through a very tough time," Badosa forced to retire during exhibition match in Spain
Paula Badosa, who returned to the top 10 thanks to her semifinal run at the Australian Open, has been unable to build on this strong start to the season.
Indeed, the world No. 9, hampered by a back injury that has plagued her for two seasons, missed much of the clay-court swing. Her return to competition was marked by a third-round exit at Roland Garros, a retirement in Berlin, and a first-round loss at Wimbledon.
This Saturday, she was scheduled to play in Huelva, Spain, for the Copa de la Reina, an exhibition event that has featured women since 2023 and celebrated its 100th edition for men. Facing her compatriot Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, Badosa won the first set 7-6 before taking the microphone and announcing her withdrawal to the crowd.
"I gave everything in the first set, but I won’t be able to continue. I apologize. I travel around the world, and your support means so much to me. I’m going through a very difficult time," the Spaniard said upon her withdrawal.
In addition to her struggles on the court, Badosa reportedly also recently split from Stefanos Tsitsipas, with whom she had been in a relationship since 2023.
