“Once Australia is over, everything will be positive”: Paula Badosa downplays ranking pressure in Melbourne

Former world No.2 Paula Badosa is on the verge of her return to the courts at the Australian Open, where she will face Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas. This time, she arrives with lower expectations — as she herself acknowledges — as she faces the difficult task of defending the semifinals she reached in 2025, which currently account for nearly half of her ranking points.

The Spaniard missed a significant portion of the 2025 season, competing in just one tournament after Wimbledon. She spent three months away from the courts before returning at the China Open in October, but was forced to retire once again due to injury, bringing her season to an early end.

The injury came at the worst possible moment, as Badosa had managed to return to the top 10 earlier in the year and appeared to be re-establishing herself as a contender at the biggest tournaments.

However, the drop in the rankings was not overly dramatic. She currently sits at No.26 and is among the seeded players at the Australian Open — not a bad position considering she missed nearly half of last season. Still, an early exit in Melbourne this week could see her fall out of the top 80, depending on how many rounds she manages to win.

“I’m coming in without expectations. I’m in a similar situation in terms of momentum and results compared to last season,” the Spaniard told Marca. “It’s a different case from the point of view that I finished 2024 in the top 10. Now I’m coming off an injury and a few months without playing. But I feel good and motivated, which is the most important thing.”

She was asked whether the heavy defense of ranking points adds extra pressure this time around. “No, because once the Australian Open is over, I have nothing to defend for the rest of the year, so everything that comes after will be positive. Obviously, the semifinals are a big result, but I think my level will start to rise toward the middle and end of the season. At that point, I’ll have zero points to defend.”

At the start of the season, Badosa returned to competition at a couple of tournaments. She defeated Marie Bouzková in her Brisbane debut before falling to Elena Rybakina in the second round. A few days later in Adelaide, Bouzková got her revenge with a three-set win, after which the 28-year-old quickly traveled to Melbourne to prepare for the Happy Slam. “For now, my body is responding well, even after playing long matches, which was what worried me the most. I’m taking that as something very positive.”

Badosa believes that as long as her physical condition remains stable, she will be able to climb back up the rankings — even if things do not go entirely her way at this Australian Open. Her ultimate goal remains the same as it has been throughout her career: to become a Grand Slam champion.

“It’s always the objective. I already said it last year when I started the season, that I want to finish inside the top eight,” said the former world No.2. “Whenever I’m asked, I’ll always give the same answer, because it will always be the goal. And I think the only thing that can stop me will be injuries.”

Another topic she addressed was her friend and recent doubles partner, Aryna Sabalenka, whom she believes is currently above the rest — “now and for quite some time.” For Badosa, the key to Sabalenka’s consistency has been becoming a more balanced player.

“She’s managing all the pressure and expectations around her very well. She’s playing a very aggressive style, but at the same time combining it with solidity and consistency," the 28-year-old player mentioned. "She’s achieved a difficult balance, because there are players who are very aggressive but not consistent, which is normal. She’s found that balance, and that’s what has made her the best.”