“Truly sorry”: Paula Badosa misses Mérida Open; aiming to return stronger at Indian Wells

Paula Badosa will not compete at the WTA 500 Mérida Open Akron next week, marking another interruption in a challenging start to her 2026 season. The Spaniard, currently ranked world No. 70, returned to the tour at the start of the year but has struggled to regain consistency. She has yet to win two consecutive matches this season, and physical difficulties have continued to affect her schedule.

Earlier this week at the WTA 1000 Dubai event, Badosa retired against Elina Svitolina after losing the first set 4-6. She had previously led 4-1 in the opening set, but was unable to maintain the level required to finish the match. Prior to that, she defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 7-5, showing glimpses of competitiveness but limited endurance over consecutive matches.

This was the 38th retirement of her professional career and the eighth since January 2024. Badosa has been managing chronic physical issues, including back problems, that have repeatedly interrupted her seasons and limited her ability to sustain tournament runs.

She confirmed her Mérida withdrawal on social media: “I am truly sorry to announce that I will not be able to be in Mérida this year. I was really looking forward to playing. I now need to recover properly and come back as soon as possible.”

At Dubai, Badosa’s mid-match retirement followed a strong start earlier in the tournament. Her first-round win over Katerina Siniakova, 6-2, 7-5, suggested she could compete, but her physical condition proved limiting against Svitolina. She conceded the first set 4-6 after leading 4-1 and was forced to retire.

The Spaniard now turns her attention to the upcoming Sunshine Double, consisting of WTA 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. Indian Wells is notable in her career as the site of her 2021 WTA 1000 title. The next weeks will be dedicated to recovery and preparation to compete at the highest level without risking further mid-match retirements.

Badosa has faced previous interruptions in Mexican tournaments, struggling with illness and injury. At the 2022 Guadalajara Open WTA 1000, she withdrew from her opening match against Victoria Azarenka due to sickness, stating: “I’m so sorry I couldn’t continue. The truth is, I’ve been very sick for the last two days… I tried everything, but it wasn’t possible.”

At the 2025 Mérida Open WTA 500, she retired during the quarterfinals against Daria Saville after requesting medical assistance for discomfort in her right leg and back. She left the court accompanied by a doctor, highlighting the physical challenges she faced while competing in Mexico.

These previous incidents show that Badosa has repeatedly encountered health issues at Mexican tournaments, which affected her ability to compete fully. Her 2026 withdrawal from Mérida continues this pattern, though her attention is now focused on upcoming WTA 1000 events in the United States.