Badosa: "There are voices in my mind that shouldn't be there"

Streaming WTA Berlin live tennis

🎾 Paula Badosa vs Coco Gauff

1. Sign up with Bet365 here
2. Make your first deposit of at least €5
3. Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

 PUBLICIDAD

Register at bet365, deposit €5 or more into your account and you will receive 100% of your eligible deposit in Bet Credits (up to €100). New customers only. Terms apply. Winnings do not include the value of Bet Credits. Maximum prizes, game restrictions, time limits and terms apply. Registration required.

The trajectory of Paula Badosa has become a survival exercise since injuries decided to block her projection, but the Spanish player remains determined to stay on her feet and fight until she has nothing left to give.

It all started with a letter that the player shared on social media a few days ago, where she explains how she feels and what this struggle against her body represents, a battle she has been fighting for several years now. This was the perfect incentive for the colleagues at El Larguero to pick up the phone and have a chat with her. There, we could listen to that close, friendly Paula Badosa, but also to an athlete focused on a goal. She wants to climb back up, to enjoy this sport again, but it's her own body that's not giving her a break. Here are the most interesting statements from this interview.

Why did you write that letter on social media?

"The truth is, I love to write, and, well, it was a moment... I was traveling, the typical situation, with music and thinking a lot. These days, I've been perhaps overthinking. And it came out. The truth is, there was a moment when I hesitated a bit about posting it, but then I said, 'Why not?'. In the end, I have a voice that people can relate to, and that's why I did it. My life may seem very beautiful, and it is, and I'm very grateful, but there are moments that are not so good. And I wanted to convey that. If I can help a girl or a boy who is going through something similar, if they read it and think, 'If Paula is going through this and can overcome it, how can't I?', then it's worth it."

Paula Badosa, Paula Badosa's biggest rival

"I have a lot of respect for my rivals, but I'm battling more with myself. Especially for internal things like fears, doubts... What if I don't make it?, what if I don't get back to where I wanted to be?", what if I get injured again? It's not the first time this has happened to me. There are many voices in my mind, even during competition, that shouldn't be there and I struggle to control. Giving up is not an option, but it's a difficult process. The ranking is not where I'd like it to be, I can't play tournaments I never imagined not playing... it's hard to accept because it's not due to my level, but because six months ago I was in one place and it has been taken away. Coming back and not seeing myself there is tough."

Constant battle against her own thoughts

"I'll be honest: right now, the negative voice is winning more often, but it's a constant battle. I work on it with specialists, with my team, but it also depends on me. The negative voices cannot be erased, it wouldn't be realistic, but trying to let the positive one win. Also, accepting that the negative one is winning right now. I think that's okay too. And gradually, let the positive one return. I continue with that excitement, even with those negative voices. I want to compete again against the world's best, that's what makes me happy. Right now, I'm not in my best emotional moment because I'm not where I want to be. I love tennis, but what I love most is competing at the highest level. And since I've already experienced it, I want to get back there."

Paula Badosa explains how she feels when she's on the court

"It's very mental. When I enter that negative dynamic, my tennis drops significantly: I make more mistakes, I'm tenser, I move slower... When I'm well mentally, everything flows. I play very well in training, but in competition, it changes, and that's where the mental battle begins. I'm looking forward to the clay court season; I love playing on that surface. Right now, I play whatever comes, it's a process, sometimes you have to take steps back to then take many forward."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Badosa: “Hay voces en mi mente que no deberían estar ahí"