Paula Badosa provides latest fitness update ahead of taking on Naomi Osaka at the French Open after her unexpected injury
World No. 10 Paula Badosa has provided an encouraging fitness update as she prepares to face four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in a blockbuster first-round match at the 2025 French Open on May 26, 2025, at Roland Garros’ Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 27-year-old Spaniard, who has been plagued by a recurring back injury throughout the season, expressed cautious optimism about her physical condition after returning to competitive play at the Strasbourg Open, where she reached the quarterfinals. This update follows a challenging period marked by a withdrawal from the Italian Open due to the same injury, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown with Osaka, who is also navigating her own comeback trail.
Badosa’s Fitness Update
Badosa, who withdrew from the Italian Open on May 8, 2025, just hours before a scheduled match against Osaka due to a flare-up of her persistent lower back injury, spoke positively about her recovery in a press conference after her Strasbourg quarterfinal loss to Liudmila Samsonova (6-4, 4-6, 6-3) on May 22. “I’m pretty happy with the performance [in Strasbourg],” she said, as reported by The Tennis Gazette. “As you know, coming back always the toughest part is physically. I think I recovered pretty well after that match.” She noted that her back, which forced her to miss the 2023 French Open due to a spinal stress fracture and caused withdrawals from Indian Wells, Madrid, and Miami in 2025, felt manageable, though not fully healed. “I’m finally back playing pain-free tennis,” she told Express US Sport, emphasizing her relief after a tough two months.
Her Strasbourg run, where she advanced past Marie Bouzkova via retirement and lost a competitive three-setter to Samsonova, marked her first completed matches since Miami. Badosa admitted to Eurosport that the back injury remains a daily mental and physical challenge: “Every day I wake up feeling scared… I can’t cope with the uncertainty of whether my back will be okay.” Despite this, her ability to compete in Strasbourg without withdrawing suggests progress, though she remains cautious, stating, “There’s always going to be a bit of risk.” Posts on X, like @gyezi_’s on May 22, expressed hope that her back holds up for the Osaka match, calling it a “box-office” clash.
Naomi Osaka’s Form and Context
Osaka, ranked No. 49, enters the match with momentum after winning her first clay title at the WTA 125 L’Open 35 de Saint-Malo on May 4, 2025, defeating Kaja Juvan in straight sets. Her 2025 season has been a mix of highs, including a final in Auckland (retired due to an abdominal injury) and a fourth-round run at the Italian Open, where she lost to Peyton Stearns in three sets. Osaka’s 17-6 record and 73.6% first-serve win rate highlight her resurgence, though her 8-6 Roland Garros record reflects past struggles on clay. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, offered a five-word message—“Stay focused, you’ve got this”—to boost her confidence. Analysts like Drew Dinsick on NBC Sports favor Osaka as the underdog, citing her recent clay improvements and Badosa’s injury concerns.
Head-to-Head and Match Outlook
This will be the first WTA meeting between Badosa and Osaka, a matchup originally set for Rome but derailed by Badosa’s withdrawal.
