"It’s being a complicated injury": Paula Badosa forced to delay 2025 clay debut with back issue

A persistent lower back injury has denied Paula Badosa the chance to compete in front of her home fans at the Mutua Madrid Open.

On Friday, ahead of her scheduled second-round meeting with Veronika Kudermetova, the No. 9 seed withdrew from the combined 1000-level event.

“I wanted to let you know that unfortunately I won’t be able to play (the) Mutua Madrid Open. I’ve tired to do everything possible until the last moment because you know how excited I am to play at home, but it’s being a complicated injury. I hope to be 100% soon,” Badosa wrote on her Instagram story.

A former world No, 2, Badosa made a triumphant return in 2024 after a stress fracture in her back nearly pushed her to walk away from the sport—winning the WTA 500 in Washington, D.C. and adding a US Open quarterfinal among a string of strong showings in the latter third of the season. In January, she defeated Coco Gauff to reach her first major semifinal at the Australian Open, a run that propelled Badosa back inside the Top 10.

But the past two months have been tough goings for the Spaniard. A back injury flared up during her Merida quarterfinal in late February, timing that ultimately ruled Badosa out of Indian Wells. She won a pair of matches at the Miami Open before citing the back problem as the reason for her withdrawal prior to a fourth-round encounter with Alexandra Eala.

If healthy enough to compete at her next slated event in Rome, Badosa will be looking to improve on her fourth-round result at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia in her 2025 clay-court debut. Not all was lost this week for the 27-year-old, as she was announced as the newest Lexus Spain ambassador on Thursday.

Kudermetova staved off lucky loser Cristina Bucsa, 4-6, 7-6 (1), 7-5, saving a match point when the local hopeful served for the contest at 5-4 in the deciding set.