30 minutes and 2 games
Paula Badosa withdrew from the Guadalajara Masters 1000 after her first match when she dropped the opening set 6-2 against Victoria Azarenka. The Catalan player exited the tournament early, ending a campaign that had included a return to form in the WTA, where she reached the semi finals last year. This latest setback adds to questions about her ongoing presence in the professional circuit and in the Spanish national team for Billie Jean King Cup competition.
“I am deeply sorry I could not continue. I have been sick for several days and have tried every possible way to recover, but it was not possible to play on. I was genuinely excited to compete in Guadalajara, a city with good memories for me”, she explained.
Azarenka, now ranked eighth in the world, broke at the very start and surged to a 4-0 lead in the first set. Badosa battled with moments of frustration and miscue after miscue, signaling the struggle she faced throughout the match. After a half hour of play, the Catalan player could not overcome the deficit and retired after losing the set.
Badosa is currently navigating a season that has not seen her reclaim the world number one position. In recent months she has not found her best tennis consistently enough to stay inside the top ten. She reflected on the year in Guadalajara, saying she must learn from the difficult experiences and manage the pressure better as she moves forward in her career.
leader of spain
The withdrawal could influence her role with the Spanish team in the Billie Jean King Cup. The event is scheduled to take place in Prague from November 1 to 6, and Spain will compete in a group that includes Slovakia and the United States. The squad features Nuria Parrizas, Aliona Bolsheva, Cristina Bucsa, and Rebeka Masarova. The team captain, Anabel Medina, faced the challenge of selecting Garbiñe Muguruza, who ended her season earlier, while Sarah Sorribes battled injuries. The overall impact of Badosa’s latest withdrawal will be observed as the national team gears up for the finals series.