By Eric Guderis Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Image source: Credit One Charleston Open
Paula Badosa, Despite dealing with numerous injuries over the past few years, he’s not ready to say goodbye to tennis just yet.
The top-10 player returns to action at one of her favorite tournaments, this week’s Credit One Charleston Open. Badosa, a former WTA 500 semi-finalist, will be hoping for another good week on clay.
The 28-year-old Badosa defeated American qualifier Kayla Day 6-4, 6-3 in the first round to win this tournament.
“It always feels good to be back on clay. I thought I played a pretty solid match, honestly. She’s a very talented player. So I didn’t know her that well. So I was very surprised at her level. And I’m happy that I got the win,” Badosa said of the win afterward.
After reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 2 in 2022, Badosa has since endured a series of injuries that have threatened her career.
The first was a stress fracture in her back that nearly ended her career and required ongoing pain management. In 2025, what she initially thought was a hip injury was later diagnosed as a labral tear.
Badosa started 2026 with a 7-8 record due to injuries and missed games. Badosa, currently ranked No. 113 in the world, needs a wild card to get into Charleston.
So it’s no surprise that during the event’s media day, Badosa was asked if she was considering retiring. She confirmed she had given it a lot of thought. However, her love for the sport kept her going despite setbacks.
“Every day,” Badosa said, “every day, I think about it, but there’s something bigger, something more powerful: I still have faith, I still believe in myself. I have this belief deep down inside, and I love this game so much. I’m so passionate about this game, and I notice that every time I step on the court to compete. I get goosebumps no matter where I play. I just love those moments.”
“Now, because I love it so much, if the body respects me in some way and I can handle it, I’ll keep playing until one day I really want to stop. Now, those emotions are stronger than the other emotion of wanting to stop.”
Badosa opened up about her recent struggles on social media, admitting she’s working on managing her emotions better. This includes journaling and practicing meditation every day. While Badosa admits she battles with herself mentally when her games and rankings aren’t where they should be, she’s still trying to find a balance to help her rise above it all.
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Badosa will face the next game Maria Sakkari in the next round.
