Paula Badosa’s career has never followed a straight line. It has surged, stalled, and staggered under the weight of injuries — yet belief in her ceiling has never really faded. Now Alex Corretja has put that belief into words, and not quietly.
The former world No. 2 believes Badosa is not just capable of winning a Grand Slam one day — he thinks she is meant to.
From Indian Wells Breakthrough to World No. 2
Badosa announced herself in emphatic fashion in 2021, lifting the Indian Wells title and backing it up with consistency that marked her as more than a one-week wonder. By 2022, three further WTA titles had carried her to a career-high ranking of world No. 2.
At that point, she was viewed as Spain’s next standard-bearer: physically dominant, mentally resilient, and built for the biggest stages. The expectation was not whether she would contend at majors, but how many chances she would get.
Injury Spiral and the Long Way Back
Then came Rome 2023. A stress fracture in her back forced her to retire mid-match and triggered a cycle that derailed her momentum. She returned at Wimbledon, only to be forced out again in the second round as the pain resurfaced.
The ranking damage was severe. Badosa slid to No. 66 and spent months trying to play through a body that would not cooperate.
Flashes of the Player She Can Be
In 2024, the comeback finally gathered substance. She won the DC Open and reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since Roland Garros 2021 at the US Open. Early 2025 offered another reminder of her level, with a run to the Australian Open semifinals before a straight-sets loss to Aryna Sabalenka.
But the pattern refused to disappear. Back issues returned, retirements piled up, and progress in the rankings stalled. After a first-round Wimbledon exit, she was forced to miss the US Open entirely. Her China Open return ended abruptly too, retiring against Karolina Muchova after just six games.
Corretja’s Faith in Her Ceiling
Despite all of that, Corretja remains convinced Badosa’s story is not defined by setbacks. Speaking to Eurosport, he framed her as essential to Spanish women’s tennis — and capable of something greater still.
“Spanish women’s tennis needs Badosa,” he said. “She is its emblematic figure, the player with the highest level and a strong personality.”
His praise came with conditions, not illusions. Full fitness. Mental balance. Continuity.
“I think Paula is a player destined to win a major, to reach the peak of her dreams,” Corretja said. “But she will only do it if she avoids injuries and big fluctuations in form.”
Australia as the Restart Button
Badosa is now plotting another reset. She recently featured at the World Tennis League exhibition, helping the Eagles reach the final with strong doubles play, even if her singles results against Magda Linette and Marta Kostyuk fell short.
Her official return is scheduled for the Adelaide International from January 12–18, 2026 — her first WTA event since September. Australia has been kind to her before. She won the Sydney International in 2022, beating Barbora Krejčíková, and she will soon be defending the Australian Open semifinal points she earned last year.
At 25, ranked No. 25, and still chasing the dream Corretja believes in so fiercely, Badosa stands at a familiar crossroads. The talent is unquestioned. The window is still open. What comes next depends, as ever, on whether her body finally allows her to see it through.