Acknowledges her physical condition: Badosa falls short of desired fitness level.
Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa, currently ranked 10th in the world, admitted after her loss in the third round of Roland Garros that her physical condition is holding her back from optimal performance. "I am far from where I want to be physically," Badosa stated, following her 6-1, 7-5 defeat against Australia's Daria Kasatkina (17th).
Badosa, age 27, further explained that her physical limitations were exposed during the match, with Kasatkina's aggressive play style on clay taking advantage of her weakened state. "I couldn't reach the balls as I wanted, I wasn't explosive," Badosa commented.
Despite the setback, Badosa expressed optimism, stating that participating in three matches at Roland Garros was a positive step forward in her recovery process. "I hope to go to Wimbledon in a month with different expectations because I didn't come here with any," she said.
Badosa has been managing chronic back injuries over the past few years, leading to a decline in her results and a drop outside the top 100 in 2024. However, she staged a comeback in 2025, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and once again breaking into the top 10 WTA rankings. Nevertheless, persisting back problems have limited her tournament appearances and match readiness.
Although her current physical state was a factor in her Roland Garros exit, Badosa remains determined to improve her condition for the upcoming Wimbledon tournament. "I want to compete as much as possible, but also take care of my back," she emphasized, setting a goal of reaching the level of her semifinalist performance at the 2021 Australian Open. Badosa's expectations for the grass court season are high, as she aims to approach Wimbledon with renewed optimism and higher aspirations.
Badosa, despite her current physical struggles, expresses her intention to improve her health-and-wellness, focusing on her back issue specifically, as she prepares for the Wimbledon tournament in the realm of sports. In her pursuit of a stronger and fitter body, she looks up to her semifinalist performance at the 2021 Australian Open, highlighting her aspirations in fitness-and-exercise and sports.
