Despite showing some semblances of form as of late, Paula Badosa has not had the best 12 months but doesn't see defeat and inconsistency as a failure she admitted in a press conference at the Madrid Open.
Badosa will face Coco Gauff on Saturday afternoon and said that failure doesn't exist with only certain exceptions not losing regularly with Rafael Nadal pointed out by the Spaniard.
"For me failure does not exist. In the end, the one who highlights the failures a lot is more than anything the press because athletes understand the sport very well. And in tennis we understand that you lose every week unless you're Rafa Nadal," she said.
"For example, last week I lost a match, but I try to take the positive things out so that I can do better the next week. Life is like that and not just sports, falling and getting up continuously. The word failure should not exist because it is very negative," Badosa added.
She spoke further on Nadal saying that he is a benchmark and someone she looks at for inspiration at difficult times.
"Rafa is the reference point for me. He is a worker, a fighter, and has a great mentality," she concluded. "I admire him more and more. He has always been an example that I have looked at when I have faced difficult moments and if I want to emulate someone, it is him."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.