‘Trying to Improve Little Things’ – Paula Badosa Plots Stronger Challenge Against Sabalenka, Swiatek & Gauff After Australian Open Showdown
Paula Badosa’s Road to Redemption: Can She Challenge the WTA’s Elite?
The WTA Tour has never been more competitive, with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff dominating the top ranks. As Paula Badosa continues her comeback, she knows she needs to elevate her game to compete with these formidable rivals.
After a strong start to the 2025 season, Badosa impressed in Melbourne, reaching her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open before falling to Sabalenka. However, she remains hungry for more success and is determined to find the right balance between ambition and patience.
Badosa’s Plan to Take on the WTA’s Best
Speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi Open, Badosa acknowledged the challenges of competing with the top-ranked players:
“That’s the tricky part. That’s a challenge now that I have, myself, but also my team, to continue to have all these ambitions—because I’m very ambitious—but to also be like, hey, calm, don’t put so much pressure on yourself.”
She emphasized the importance of fine-tuning her game to close the gap against Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff:
“When I start to do that properly, that’s when my tennis and my level come. And of course, adding some things, trying to improve the little things that I’ve seen in Australia that maybe I’ll need if I want to beat players like Aryna, Iga, or Coco.”
From Career-Threatening Injury to Grand Slam Semifinalist
Badosa’s journey back to the top hasn’t been easy. A stress fracture in her back at the 2023 Italian Open put her career in jeopardy. Doctors warned her that continuing to play at a high level would be “complicated.”
Reflecting on that difficult period, Badosa admitted:
“I was close to retirement. What kept me going was my faith in myself, believing, like just give it one more try. And also, my passion for tennis—I love it.”
A reshuffle in her training team and renewed mental strength helped her push through, culminating in her first title in nearly two years at Washington, DC.
What’s Next for Badosa?
With her sights set on returning to the Top 10, Badosa is now focused on her Abu Dhabi Open campaign. She cruised past Linda Noskova in straight sets and awaits the winner of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. Magda Linette in the quarterfinals.
As she continues her comeback, the big question remains: Can Badosa reclaim her dominance, or will Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff continue to overshadow her?
