Paula Badosa admitted she almost quit tennis for good (Image: Getty)
Paula Badosa has overcome a career-threatening injury and a horrible collapse at the US Open to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final.
The Spaniard caused a big upset by beating in-form 7-5 6-4 at the .
The result was even more surprising because of the physical and mental challenges that the former world No.2 has overcome.
No.11 seed Badosa, 27, was forced out of the 2023 French Open with a stress fracture of her back and had to retire at .
She was out for six months and when she returned at the start of 2024 with a warning from doctors that she could not continue taking painkilling cortisone injections forever.
The Spaniard, who goes out with , broke down in tears when she reached the fourth round of last year and admitted: “A few months ago I didn’t know if I could play tennis anymore.”
And after beating Gauff, she said: “It was at one point of last year that I was pretty close to retiring because I wasn’t seeing myself at the level. The back wasn’t responding well. I didn’t find solutions. But I wanted to keep it a last try, a last chance to finish the year and let’s see how it would go.”
Paula Badosa beat Coco Gauff in straight sets (Image: Getty)
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“Well, here I am. So I’m really proud of what we went through with all my team and especially how I fought through all that, especially mentally.
“When I thought about stopping was when I was doing the injections because they told me I had to do max three a year, and I was already on my second one. It was the fourth month of the year. I was quite playing like in the limit with that also.
“So I think especially it was in the clay court season. It was pretty bad for me and also the back was still hurting. So in that moment I really didn’t know what to do.
“Especially after in my home tournament in Madrid it was very tough for me. A mix of back, mentally, and everything. That moment I was thinking maybe I’m not made for being back again. I was doubting a lot. But my last injection was in the clay court season last year.”
The WTA Comeback Player of the Year in 2024 made her second Grand Slam quarter-final at last year’s US Open but from 5-1 up in the second set, she fell apart to lose the last six games and lose 6-2 7-5.
“I was completely disaster,” she said.
“This time she won three consecutive games in the second set to lead 5-2 but failed to serve out the match the match the first time. But in her next servicer game, she slayed her quarter-final demons by sending down two aces, an unreturned serve and forehand winner in the final game. She also returns to the world’s top 10 for the first time since October 2022.
“I’m really happy to be in the semifinals for the first time,” she said. “The last slam was very tough for me, losing in the quarterfinals, but I think I learned from that. Finally, today I think I played a great match against Coco.”