By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, April 23, 2024
A chronic back issue has pained Paula Badosa and could cause the premature end to her competitive career.
Former world No. 2 Badosa told WTA Insider Podcast's Courtney Nguyen she is receiving cortisone injections for the pain in her back.
While the cortisone can help alleviate her back pain in the short term, doctors told Badosa she may have just "a few more years" left on tour because of her back condition.
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"In Indian Wells, the doctors told me it would be very complicated to continue my career," Badosa told WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen. "They said this is the only option we can give you and maybe you will have to keep doing that if you want to play for a few more years.
"I said, 'A few more years? I'm still 26.' For me, that was very tough. So far, the injections are working. The pain is always there, but there were times I couldn't even handle it."
Stinging back pain has caused Badosa to retire from three different tournaments this season, in Dubai, Thailand and last week in Stuttgart where she was deadlocked with world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, 3-3 in the final set, when she pulled the plug.
The 2021 Indian Wells champion said coping with the back injury and the continuous concern it could halt her career is a scary situation.
"This is like the first time that I am opening up, so I'm still pretty scared," Badosa said. "They said this may work for a few months but we'll have to check again, so I'm scared I'll have to stop again.
"It's all the time chasing this, waking up every morning and the pain it's there and sometimes I could not handle it, but now I can. At least that's the positive thing."
Photo credit: Matthew Calvis