Paula Badosa Leaves Fans Heartbroken With Teary Exit From China Open: “Her Body Hates Her”
In a gut-wrenching moment that silenced the Beijing crowd, former World No. 2 Paula Badosa was forced to retire from her second-round match at the China Open on September 28, 2025, tears streaming down her face as a recurring left thigh and groin injury derailed her long-awaited comeback. The 27-year-old Spaniard, who had been sidelined for over two months, lasted just six games against No. 13 seed Karolína Muchová—trailing 2-4 in the first set—before calling for a medical timeout and ultimately walking off the court in visible distress. Fans worldwide took to social media with an outpouring of support, one viral post capturing the sentiment: “Her body hates her,” echoing the frustration of a star whose career has been repeatedly shattered by physical setbacks.
The Match: A Cruelly Short Comeback
Badosa, seeded 18th in Beijing, entered the WTA 1000 event as her first tournament since a first-round Wimbledon exit in July, where the same thigh issue first flared up amid her ongoing battle with a psoas muscle tear. She had breezed through her opener against qualifier Moyuka Uchijima (6-3, 6-4) on September 26, showing flashes of her powerful baseline game and serving prowess—winning 70% of first-serve points. But against Muchová, a crafty Czech with a 1-2 head-to-head edge (Badosa leads overall 2-1), the wheels came off early.
The match on the main Diamond Court lasted only 35 minutes. Badosa struggled with mobility from the outset, her movement hampered as Muchová dictated with slices and angles. At 3-2 down, Badosa took a medical timeout for treatment on her left inner thigh/groin area, but she collapsed in tears during the sixth game, shaking hands with Muchová before limping off. “Tough scenes,” tweeted reporter edgeAI, sharing a video of the emotional moment that racked up thousands of views. Muchová, empathetic in victory, later said, “I hate seeing players like Paula go through this— she’s a fighter.”
Badosa’s Tormenting 2025: A Season of Highs and Heartbreak
Once a top-10 mainstay with a 2021 Indian Wells title under her belt, Badosa’s 2025 has been a cruel rollercoaster dominated by injuries. She burst out of the gates with a career-best Australian Open semifinal in January, upsetting Coco Gauff en route and falling on her knees in tears after the win—doctors had warned her back issues might end her career. But a psoas tear in February at the Merida Open quarterfinals sidelined her briefly, followed by flare-ups that forced her out of the North American swing (Canadian Open, Cincinnati, US Open) and much of the European clay season.
This marks her third retirement of 2025, compounding a stress fracture from 2023 that wiped out five months. Her record stands at a modest 17-11 entering Beijing, with her ranking slipping to No. 18 (projected to drop outside the top 20 after losing 325 points from last year’s semifinal run here). Despite the gloom, Badosa has dismissed retirement rumors, telling reporters in July, “I’m not done—tennis is my life.”
| Tournament | Best Result | Injury Impact |
|————|————-|—————|
| Australian Open | SF | Career highlight; emotional win over Gauff amid back concerns |
| Merida Open | QF | Psoas tear forced early exit; first major setback |
| Wimbledon | 1R | Thigh/groin flare-up vs. Boulter; sidelined for 2+ months |
| China Open (ongoing) | 2R (ret.) | Third retirement; tears in Beijing highlight ongoing struggles |
| US Open | DNP | Missed due to recovery; focused on hard-court prep |
Fan Reaction: A Wave of Empathy and Anger
Social media erupted with heartbreak for Badosa, the “Spaniard with the fighter’s spirit.” Posts flooded X (formerly Twitter) under #PaulaBadosa and #ChinaOpen, blending support with frustration at the WTA’s grueling schedule. “Her body hates her—give this girl a break,” one fan lamented, while another shared, “Seeing Paula cry like that… tennis needs her healthy.” Spanish journalist José Morón tweeted in solidarity: “Se nos rompe el alma verla así” (It breaks our hearts to see her like this), attaching a poignant photo. Others recalled her AO triumph: “From kneeling in joy in Melbourne to this—unfair.” The outpouring underscores Badosa’s likability, with fans praising her mental fortitude amid physical betrayal.
What’s Next for Paula?
With the WTA Finals looming and the Asian swing wrapping up, Badosa faces an uncertain path. The thigh injury’s severity is unclear, but experts speculate a short break at minimum—potentially ending her 2025 season to prioritize full recovery for 2026. Under coach Xavier Budhiasa, she’s leaned on yoga and physio Yutaka Nakamura (shared with Emma Raducanu) for resilience, but whispers of burnout grow louder. As one analyst put it, “Paula’s talent is undeniable; her body just needs to catch up.” At 27, with a peak still in sight, Badosa’s story is far from over—fans are already counting down to her next roar.
