The former world number two is going through hell on the circuit » “The family wants to kill me because of football”
Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Friday, 08 May 2026, 07:43 / Updated Friday, 08 May 2026 07:43
Until recently, he was part of the world elite and fighting for Grand Slam titles. Today, the reality of 28-year-old Paula Badosa is diametrically opposed. The player from Spain has fallen into the second hundred of the WTA ranking, being now on the 102nd place, she is fighting with her own psyche, with insomnia and has definitely canceled participation in Roland Garros from her calendar.
The streak of poor results started with the failure at the Australian Open, where she was eliminated as early as the second round and failed to defend her important points from last year's semi-final. He currently has a not-so-good record of 9 wins and 12 losses. The reasons for this steep fall from the top 10 to the 102nd place in the ranking were explained by the tennis player herself in the “El Camino De Mario” podcast. It was also there that he addressed several topics, including how he doesn't get along with family members because of tennis.
In a gray moment of her career, Paula Badosa opened her soul
“I've lost all confidence in myself. Besides, my body isn't helping me either, reacting the way it's reacting,” honestly admitted the former world number two, according to sport.aktuality.sk.
He informed his fans about his mental problems on social networks since the beginning of spring. Despite the enormous efforts made in training, the results have not improved, and Badosa is going through an unprecedented crisis: “I train a lot, I try to give more than one hundred percent, but the matches do not end in my favor. I have never experienced such a long losing streak,” she continued.
The turning point and panic generated by insomnia
Frustration peaked during spring clay tournaments. In Stuttgart, Germany, she lost a close match against Eva Lys, but the highlight came at home in Madrid.
“In Madrid there was a moment in the third set after which I completely collapsed,” she recalled the painful defeat, which cost her not only a drop in the second hundred of the ranking, but also the need to play in the French Open qualifiers.
However, he will not even participate in these, definitively canceling his presence in Paris. The reasons, according to his “frozen” words on the podcast, run much deeper than just poor athletic form.
“I doubt myself, I'm afraid and I'm afraid. I sleep two or three hours at night and at six in the morning I don't know what to do with myself anymore, so I just go out somewhere. I'm completely exhausted and I don't know how to go on”said the Iberian.
Betrayal of Catalan pride
In the discussion with the moderator Mario Suárez, former champion in La Liga, he also reached lighter topics, especially her relationship with football. Even in this sphere, Badosa experienced a personal turning point that sent ripples through her inner circle.
He's always been a Barcelona fan, but that all changed in 2022 with the invitation to the Champions League semi-final between Real Madrid and Manchester City.
“Madrid's comeback captivated me so much that I decided to change my shirt and I've been a Real fan ever since,” the tennis player explained the reasons for her change of club membership.
With typical Spanish temperament, he then added that this “transfer” was not easily accepted at home: “However, the family did not accept at all, everyone, including friends, want to kill me, literally”she concluded.
