"Sign Me Up": Paula Badosa would trade career for one Grand Slam title

Paula Badosa answered a personal interview talking about injuries and a potential retirement, while she recovers from a relapse in the pain in her back, an injury that she recognizes 'is forever'. The former world No. 2 hopes to return next week at the Rome Open after a month off the courts.

The Spaniard was feeling good after having returned to the top 10 after reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open at the beginning of the year. However, the injuries reappeared when she retired during the Merida Open while facing Daria Saville. A week later she withdrew from Indian Wells.

Badosa had advanced a couple of rounds at the Miami Open and was supposed to face Filipina Alexandra Eala in the Round of 16. However, a new relapse of her injury forced her to withdraw before stepping onto the court and then she withdrew from the Stuttgart Open and Madrid Open.

The Spaniard acknowledged that she will no longer overcome the injury and that she will only have palliative treatments for the pain. "It's forever, it's a chronic injury. What happens is that this time it's different, I still have the pain on the right side controlled, but now it comes suddenly and affects my nerve. It's like a herniated disc that has moved, I could play with this, the problem is that it's affecting my nerve. With this, I can't even lead a normal life."

"The first infiltration did absolutely nothing for me, I was desperate, that's when I was really bad. With the second infiltration, it stopped hurting, it allowed me to lead a normal life, so that's when I gradually started training and going to the gym."

Badosa does not avoid the topic of retirement and acknowledges that she believes she will end her career young. However, she commented that her obsession remains winning a Grand Slam. The 27-year-old player was asked if she is satisfied with her career if she eventually had to retire soon without achieving the coveted major title. "If you see it from the outside, I suppose it's a good career. If you ask me, it's a piece of shit."

Furthermore, in the interview, she was asked if she would agree to 'sign' to win a Grand Slam and then end her career. "Totally, to win a Grand Slam and retire the next day. I'd sign that right now."

In any case, she acknowledged that she feels satisfied with her career and the way she has overcome difficulties due to injuries several times and returned to the top level when she has fallen in the ranking. "More than calm, it makes me feel proud. I have had many things against me, but I have always managed to move forward. The day I retire will be what I am most proud of. Even above the titles, I'll keep that aspect of constantly resurfacing, the essence of the phoenix. I identify a lot with that now."