"She is the best. I hope she returns to the elite": Aryna Sabalenka hopes 'soulmate' Paula Badosa's suffering ends

World number two Aryna Sabalenka has wished her friend and fellow tennis player Paula Badosa the best of luck in returning to full fitness. The former world number two has struggled with injury concerns in the recent past. It was because of this reason Badosa ended up missing three out of four Grand Slams in 2023 as well.

Badosa suffered yet another injury concern during the recently concluded Stuttgart Open where in the round of 16 tied against the reigning world number two, she was forced to retire in the third set.

Sabalenka, whose close friendship with the New York-born is known in the world of tennis, has recently been quoted in a report where she stated her desire to see the 26-year-old returning to full fitness and winning major silverware in the near future.

“When you find someone you feel is your soulmate, it’s the best thing that can happen to you,” said the two-time Grand Slam winner. "I love Paula very much. We have been friends for three or four years, she is an incredible person.

“It is very important to have friends on the tour, so when you find someone who you feel is your soulmate, it is the best thing that can happen to you. She is the best. I hope she returns to the elite, that she stops suffering with injuries. I am always here for whatever she needs. I am lucky not to meet her in the first round here in Spain, it would create a very interesting atmosphere, so I think I'm lucky (laughs).

“We literally had a conversation this morning and I told her that I dealt with a similar injury. I just told her the things I was doing at that time, what exercises I could do. I just shared with her my experience and how I was able to get out of that injury."