"I am going to retire young..": Paula Badosa's heartbreaking retirement admission as back injury continues

Paula Badosa has made the heartbreaking admission that she will likely retire young then have to be operated on straight away meaning she won't stop until she is told to.

In the spring of 2024, the Spanish tennis star who is still in her late 20's shared that her persistent back injury is a chronic issue. For instance Anett Kontaveit had similar and had to retire from the sport early as it got too much.

Badosa on the otherhand had new treatment and it worked out. She made her first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open but after reaching the top 10 again and becoming a force in the top 10, it all came crashing down.

Badosa ended up having a recurrence of the injury during Merida Open Akron which has seen her barely play since and was the blow she did not need.

“I have no choice [but to keep going], I’m very stubborn. For me to retire, the doctors would have to tell me, and I am in daily contact with them. I have told him many times: ‘until you operate on me and there is no solution, I will continue with the infiltrations’, even knowing how bad they feel and how harmful they are to the body," the world No. 10 said as per Eurosport.ES.

But while she has decided to keep going until the doctors tell her under a stubbornness, she admits that she will likely have to be operated on as soon as she finishes her career. She heads into the clay court season which is where her issues started and it is still a big concern.

"Having such a strong character has helped me to accept this over time, I know that I am going to retire young and the next day I will go straight to the operating room," Badosa added.