Paula Badosa sank to her hands and knees in floods of tears after a sensational Wimbledon victory over Russian 14th seed Daria Kasatkina on Friday as she feared back problem that could have ended her career.
The 26-year-old Spaniard, who was ranked world number two at the start of this year but has tumbled down the rankings in recent months due to various injuries including his ongoing back problem.
Back on the tour in January after withdrawing from Wimbledon last year, she continued a steady comeback with a 7-6(6) 4-6 6-4 win to oust Eastbourne champion Kasatkina.
And it’s not my first time in a second week (of a Grand Slam), but the most special one. I’m really proud of myself. Badosa told reporters: “I have been dealing with many injuries and it had reached a point where I hadn’t made it to the second week in quite some time.
‘Here last year I had to take a retirement…on the couch and watching tournaments from home. I this year it was a new year and I never know what’s going to happen.
At the start of this season, doctors had told Badosa that it would be “complicated for me to continue playing tennis,” but she carried on with cortisone injections.
Deep down in my soul, I was not approving of it. But as for me, I was like: ‘I’m going to carry on regardless’. That’s what made me the player I am too, that I always want more,” she said.
I’m going to fight, or battling through that as challenging it is, you know.
“Of course, there are some moments that you have pain and really do not know what to do. You a feel a bit lost. But I didn’t care. I remember saying to my team I would just play in pain.
The Spaniard reached the last 16 at Roland Garros in June, then followed up that run by making her way through qualifying and all the way to a quarter-final appearance this month at Bad Homburg as she returned inside the top 100.
I always had a strong mind and have been a warrior so it was going to be done regardless. It is the reason why for me, I feel very proud and it’s like okay everything has passed,” Badosa said.
” And now I’m back in the fourth round, and playing at a good level because when you are coming back sometimes if (I was) really struggling to play matches my level wasn’t there.
“I felt so far away. So getting back at it now, that means a lot.
