Paula Badosa pens emotional message about injury comeback ahead of French Open and what it means to her
Paula Badosa, the former world No. 2 and 2024 WTA Comeback Player of the Year, shared an emotional message on Instagram on May 22, 2025, reflecting on her remarkable recovery from a chronic back injury as she prepares for the 2025 French Open, starting May 25. The Spanish tennis star, who reached a career-high No. 2 in 2022, has faced significant challenges since suffering a spinal stress fracture at the 2023 Italian Open, which forced her to miss that year’s Roland Garros and Wimbledon, dropping her ranking to No. 140 by May 2024. In her post, Badosa wrote, “Two years ago, I was told I might never play again. To be back at Roland Garros, pain-free, feels like a miracle. I’m so grateful for my team, my family, and the fans who stayed with me through the darkest times.”
Badosa’s comeback began in mid-2024 with a title at the WTA 500 Citi Open and deep runs at Cincinnati and the US Open, culminating in her first Grand Slam semifinal at the 2025 Australian Open, where she upset Coco Gauff 7-5, 6-4. Despite setbacks, including withdrawals from the 2025 Miami Open and Madrid Open due to recurring back pain, she announced at the Internationaux de Strasbourg on May 20 that she is finally playing “pain-free” tennis, a milestone she described as “a huge win” after fearing retirement. In Strasbourg, she advanced past Marie Bouzkova via retirement and defeated Emma Raducanu 6-4, 7-5, boosting her confidence for Paris.
The 2015 French Open junior champion, Badosa holds Roland Garros close to her heart, having reached the quarterfinals in 2021. She told Sportskeeda, “This tournament is special. It’s where I dreamed of playing as a kid.” Her emotional message emphasized resilience, noting, “Every day I wake up knowing I’ve overcome what seemed impossible.” Fans on X, like @TheTennisLetter, celebrated her journey, quoting her pride in returning to the top 10: “Doing it twice after injury means the world.” Seeded 11th at Roland Garros, Badosa faces a tough draw but aims to channel her mental strength and powerful serve to make a deep run.
