Badosa: "They were trying to retire me from tennis and that motivated me to go for more"

Mónica Barberán Munera | 4 Aug 2024 | 10.23

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A week full of emotions is what Paula Badosa is going through at the WTA in Washington. The Spanish player made it to the final after more than a year and a half since her last one. Badosa is finding positive sensations in a tournament far removed from the Olympics, sensations she hadn't felt in a long time after struggling with injuries. Now, the Catalan is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and proving to everyone that her time has come. In a press conference, Paula talked about what has motivated her the most to be there, how she is learning to appreciate her journey, and what changes she has adopted in this upcoming American hardcourt tour.

- Her time has come

"I've been saying for a few weeks now that I've been playing well and I knew my moment would come, but didn't know when. Lately, I felt I was losing close matches, but I knew it was coming. All I needed was patience. Finally, I'm playing another final, it's been a while since the last one. At the beginning of the year, a year where I've been injured and all, there were moments when I thought: 'Will I be able to return to the level I want?' That was tough because my back wasn't responding, but now it has. I feel like an athlete again. It's very emotional for me to be back in a final and fighting for titles," said Paula Badosa in the 2024 Washington WTA press conference.

- Can she now appreciate and enjoy the journey?

"I try. Every morning when I wake up, I try to appreciate it. Sometimes it's hard because I'm a perfectionist, but I'm trying to value each moment. Now it's a final, so I have to try to enjoy it because, as I said, it's been over a year since the last time I played one and I've been through many struggles. So, I'll try to enjoy it as much as I can."

- Does she appreciate it more after all this time since the last final she played?

"Yes, especially considering everything I've been through. In February, I had injections and also after the Rome tournament a few months ago. I wasn't seeing the light, I thought: 'How can I continue like this?' After all, it's incredible to see myself now as a different player physically, mentally, and even in terms of tennis. Many people didn't believe it was possible, they were retiring me from tennis. That also helps and keeps pushing me further, motivating me."

- The 'haters' have motivated her to keep going

"I still have to talk to doctors every day and watch that closely because some days I feel my back, but other days I can continue. There was something inside me thinking: 'No matter how much pain I feel, I need to prove everyone wrong and show that I can come back because I deserve it.' That's what motivated me the most, reading all those people saying: 'Retire already, you have nothing left to do, your level isn't what it used to be.' So, I tell them: 'Don't worry, just wait.'"

- Her key change in her game this week

"What's changing a bit is that in previous tournaments, I felt the pressure to win every match no matter what, and I think that pressured me so much that maybe I couldn't perform as well in crucial moments as I am now. In this tournament after Wimbledon, I've been working on myself, especially mentally, and I told my coach: 'In this U.S. swing, I want to be more aggressive in key points. If I lose, it's okay, that's the way.' I wanted to change my mentality, and this week it's been working quite well. That's the mindset I had when I was in the top 10; I want to get back to that."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Badosa: "Me estaban retirando del tenis y eso me motivó a ir a por más"