Analysis: Paula Badosa injured again but what now? The points she has to defend for the rest of the year

Paula Badosa has once again been sidelined by injury at a time when she was playing some of the best tennis of her career. Persistent back issues forced her to withdraw from her Miami Open match against Alexandra Eala, granting the young and promising 19-year-old Filipina a spot in the quarterfinals, where she will face world No. 1 Iga Świątek.

The Spanish star had enjoyed a period of good health in recent months, demonstrating that when fully fit, she remains one of the most formidable players on tour. However, her back problems resurfaced during the WTA 500 event in Mérida, where she was forced to retire mid-match against Daria Saville despite having won the first set and being considered a strong title contender.

Following that setback, Badosa opted to skip Indian Wells in an effort to recover and prepare for Miami. She made a successful start in Florida, overcoming Canada's rising star Victoria Mboko in a challenging second-round match. However, during her third-round encounter against Clara Tauson, she once again felt the familiar pain that has plagued her performances. Despite managing to secure a straight-sets victory, she ultimately decided she could not continue in the tournament.

A Crucial Period in the Season

As the season progresses, Badosa finds herself at a critical juncture. While she does have ranking points to defend in the coming months, the burden is not overwhelming. Notably, she had already skipped the Paris Olympics to ensure full recovery ahead of the North American hard-court swing, a decision that ultimately paid off.

In 2024, Badosa struggled on clay, suffering early exits in Charleston and Madrid before reaching the second round in Stuttgart. She made some progress at the Italian Open, advancing to the Round of 16, and reached the third round at Roland Garros, accumulating only 321 points on the surface. Given that she had fallen outside the top 100 at the start of the season, she was forced to navigate multiple rounds in most tournaments.

Her fortunes improved significantly on grass, where she reached the quarterfinals in Bad Homburg and the fourth round at Wimbledon, collecting 348 points in just two events. However, it was during the summer hard-court season that she truly hit her stride, stringing together a series of impressive results that catapulted her back up the rankings.

Badosa claimed the WTA 500 title at the DC Open and reached the semifinals of both the Cincinnati Open and China Open, along with the WTA 500 event in Ningbo. Additionally, she made the quarterfinals at the US Open, a run that played a crucial role in her return to the Top 10. Currently on the cusp of re-entering the elite tier, she now faces the challenge of defending those valuable ranking points. Any slip in form could result in a significant slide down the rankings.

With crucial tournaments on the horizon, Badosa will be hoping for a full recovery to reclaim her momentum. The road ahead remains uncertain, but if she can regain her physical condition, she has already proven she belongs among the world's best.

This piece is translated to English with the original being written by TenisAldia.ES.