2024 Finals players to watch: Paula Badosa
06/11/2024 13:52
Spain's hopes of winning their first Billie Jean King Cup title in 26 years have been boosted by a thrilling return to form for Paula Badosa in the second half of this season
By Kevin Palmer
The 26-year-old reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 in April 2022, but a back injury plunged her career into doubt in the opening months of 2024.
Such was her concern that Badosa admits she considered walking away from tennis, with her discomfort on court eating into her desire to return to top form.
"A few months ago I was thinking of quitting this sport," she said amid her run to the quarter-finals of the US Open in September.
"I stopped believing in myself and my injury wasn't responding. So being back in one of the best places in the world is a dream come true.
"The low point for me was in the middle of the season. It was really bad. There were moments, especially after Madrid (in April), when I didn't know what to do. In my mind I was thinking, maybe I should quit because if I'm not at the highest level, I don't want to play this sport. I don't want to be in the ranking I was in that moment. For me, it doesn't make sense.
"That's how I am as my personality. So if I'm not on the top or in the best players in the world, I don't want to play this sport.
"At that moment, I was playing really badly and I wasn't finding the solution, but I had no other option than to be with my team, stick with them and trust the process as we say.
"I think the process was good. I was working well, but I just needed time and patience. Also, I needed my back to respond. It came all after I think after the clay court season, before the grass. I started to feel better. Slowly you win one win matches. You start to believe in yourself."
When you feel your career is slipping away, subsequent success is all the more satisfying and that has been the story for Badosa in recent months.
She got emotional on court and during interviews after big wins at Wimbledon and the US Open and it was easy to understand why given where she was at the start of 2024.
"It means so much, and after what I've been through the last year, for me it's very special to already be on this level," she added.
"At the beginning of the year, I was obsessed. I wanted to have the comeback of the year. Like no matter what... I'm like, I need to do this no matter what.
"So I think I'm in a good moment now, and I'm very happy that I can prove all this again and that I'm playing maybe at one of the best levels of my career. I'm back at the top. For me, it means a lot because it's where I want to be."
Runs to the semi-finals at the WTA 1000 events at Cincinnati and Beijing backed up her first title win since 2022 in Washington in August, pushing her close to a return to the top 10 of the WTA rankings.
Now she is setting her sights on success for Spain in front of a home crowd in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, as she prepares to make her first appearance in the competition since 2022 with Spain captain Anabel Medina Garrigues excited to see what she can produce in Malaga.
"We have suffered a lot with Paula," said Medina Garrigues. "She had us in suspense for more than a year due to a back injury, but luckily she is in exceptional shape, she has made very good progress, she is in the top 20, so it is great to have her back in the team."
Spain will need Badosa to shine if they are to make an impact in Malaga and on the evidence of her performances over the last few months, she appears to be ready to answer her nation's call.
