Spanish women’s tennis hopes in the women’s draw at the Australian Open are pinned on Paula Badosa. The 26-year-old from Begur, ranked 28th in the WTA rankings, reappeared at the Brisbane tournament after withdrawing from the latter part of last season through injury. Paula, before her debut in the first major with Kazakhstan’s Zarina Diyas, spoke to MARCA about how she is feeling and her expectations for 2026.Last year you came in with no expectations and reached the semi-finals. What are your expectations this time around?
I have no expectations, I am in a similar situation in terms of dynamics and results with respect to last season. It is a different case from the point of view that in 2024 I finished in the ‘top 10’. Now I come from an injury and a few months without playing. But I feel good and eager, which is the most important thing
How are you physically? At the moment, my body is responding well, even though I have had long matches, which is what worried me the most. I take it as a very positive thing.Have you had any special treatment for your back ailments?
I’m always aware of my back, but right now I haven’t done a specific treatment because in pre-season we trained very hard and it responded very well. I do the treatments when there is no other option and I have too much pain. I’ve had quite long matches on this tour and I got up well the next day
I treat my back when there is no other option and I am in too much pain
You defend 780 points from the 2025 semifinals. Does that put any added pressure on you?
No, because once the Australian Open is over I have nothing to defend for the rest of the year so whatever comes after that is going to be positive. Obviously the semi-finals is a big result, but I think my level will start to go up in the middle of the season. There I will have zero points to defend
Is the aim of the course to try to win a Grand Slam title?It’s always the goal. I said it last year when I started the season, that I want to finish in the top eight. When I’m asked, I’m always going to answer the same thing, because it’s always going to be the goal, and I think the only thing that’s going to stop me is injuries.Are you one of those who looks at the draw or do you just want to know the opponent for the next round?Do you look at the draw or do you go match by match? I always look at the whole picture, although, obviously, I go match by match. I like to look at it to analyze it. I like tennis and I watch both men’s and women’s tennis
I always wanted to be like Garbiñe, she marked an era in terms of playing style
Do you think your friend Aryna Sabalenka is a little bit above the rest today?
She has been doing it for a while now. She is handling all the pressure and expectations very well. She is playing a very aggressive style of play, but at the same time she combines solidity and consistency. She has achieved a difficult combination because there are players who are very aggressive and not consistent, which is logical. She has achieved that balance that has made her the best
Do you like having Garbiñe Muguruza as co-director of the Mutua Madrid Open?
I love it because she is a player that I grew up admiring a lot. I always said that I wanted to be like her and she has marked an era in Spanish tennis and for me also marked an era in terms of style of play. She was the first one who played in a similar way to the one I have. She has always been an example in which I have looked at myself. I like the fact that she is involved in tennis as the director of the Madrid tournament
My level of tennis in training is there, but putting it into practice in competition is what is costing me more
How did you feel about the three games played between Brisbane and Adelaide?
With Rybakina she was very good and I’m not in the competitive rhythm. At the moment, I couldn’t compete with her. It’s not that I didn’t feel as comfortable as I would like because I made mistakes that I’m not used to. Although you stop because of an injury, confidence goes away. I notice that I’m missing the rhythm, a faster reaction, decision making… That’s what I’m struggling with the most when I come back because my level of tennis in training is there and it’s always going to be there, but putting it into practice in competition with the tension is what I’m struggling with the most
Read the full article here
