Badosa aims to 'come back stronger' but left 'sad and helpless' after Australian Open withdrawal

Paula Badosa admitted that she felt really 'helpless and sad' after withdrawing from the Australian Open but promised to come back much stronger.

Badosa sustained an injury during her match against Beatriz Haddad Maia in Adelaide but opted to finish the match. She actually played well in that one and looked to be getting into very good form for the major but the injury proved too much and she withdraw first from Auckland and then a day later from the Australian Open.

She took to Instagram to express sadness about it:

"When I felt better after a long time, a setback like this happens. After perhaps the best and toughest preseason I've ever done. I feel very helpless and sad. I don't know how long it will take me to get back on the slopes, I hope it won't be long and I'll come back with the same level that I left. I am sad yes, because I have put all my heart and soul to recover that."

She added that she will come back stronger:

"There is no choice but to accept this and keep looking forward without regretting I suppose. But I'm sad and it's not always so good and it's okay to share and accept it. Nothing that, thanks once again for the messages of support that I always receive, I love you. Now my head is only thinking about recovery. And once again... I will come back stronger."