Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Paula Badosa Returns in Adelaide With Health-First Plan for 2026

Her comeback follows months of rehab for a chronic back condition that once prompted retirement advice.

Overview

  • Badosa resumed competition in Adelaide after stepping away in September to treat recurring back problems, saying she feels stronger after her best preseason.
  • She has outlined a January schedule that includes Brisbane, Adelaide and the Australian Open as she builds match fitness cautiously.
  • Doctors diagnosed a chronic back issue in early 2024 following a 2023 injury in Rome, and she rejected advice to retire in favor of treatment and a measured return.
  • After reaching the 2025 Australian Open semifinals, renewed back trouble limited her to about 10 events and she enters 2026 ranked No. 25.
  • Her stated goals center on consistency and listening to her body, and she has highlighted mental health in a ‘lonely’ sport and the balance she finds training in Dubai.