Through the ups and downs of her 2024 season, Paula Badosa continues to shine. Early in the year, she struggled with a back injury, plummeting to No. 140 in the rankings. However, her fortunes changed when she won the Mubadala Citi DC Open in August, marking her first title in over two years. Badosa also reached the quarterfinals at both the Cincinnati Open and the US Open. Unfortunately, health issues, including gastrointestinal problems, cut her season short. Despite pulling out of the Japan Open on October 21 and missing the WTA Finals, she remains a supportive cheerleader for her fellow competitors!
The top eight players are gearing up for a thrilling showdown in Riyadh. Before they would compete though, they posed in stunning gowns alongside the sparkling 2024 WTA Finals trophy during a mesmerizing photoshoot that thrilled fans. These photoshoots have become highlights in recent years. Last year’s event featured an “iconic” beach shoot in Cancun. This year, the players gathered in the historic town of Diriyah to commemorate the prestigious tournament.
Earlier today, the WTA’s X account shared stunning images from the photoshoot, captioned, “There’s only one Diriyah. There will be only one singles champ.” The singles stars like Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff wore outfits from top designers like Christopher Esber and Yousef Akbar respectively. Doubles players showcased creations from Reformation, while Savage Fenty provided stylish robes for their Style Suite. The coveted Billie Jean King Trophy for singles and the Martina Navratilova Trophy for doubles were central to the group photos. Paula Badosa replied to the WTA’s post on X with enthusiasm, saying, “I love all of them. Pretty girls!” along with a heart-eyes emoji, perfectly capturing her admiration for the stunning visuals.
I love all of them pretty girls!
— Paula Badosa (@paulabadosa) November 1, 2024
Paula may be out of contention for this season, but it’s nice to see that she remains a supportive figure for not just for her fellow players, but her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas as well. After opting out of the Japan Open, she flew to Paris to be by his side as he prepared for the Paris Masters 2024. The couple has been spotted enjoying coffee dates and recently graced the cover of Hola magazine. This shows that even away from the court, Badosa is thriving in her personal life! However, she would have preferred to be on the court than off it.
How does Badosa feel about not participating in the WTA Finals?
Paula Badosa’s journey in 2024 has been a testament to her resilience and determination. After facing a significant drop in her ranking, she’s climbed back to the top 20, which she considers a huge achievement. “It has never been my goal to go to the Masters Cup. This year my goal was to be as high as possible,” Badosa stated, emphasizing her focus on gradual improvement.
After a tough start to the year, she made a remarkable comeback by winning the Mubadala Citi DC Open in August, which marked her first title in over two years. “Think that four months ago I was 120th in the world and for me to be 10th or 11th in the ranking now was already a lot. Being in the Finals was not in the plans and I also think that what I have to learn is to choose the tournaments well and take care of myself,” she added.
Looking ahead, Badosa is prioritizing her health and mental well-being. She explained, “I also think that what I have to learn is to choose the tournaments well and take care of myself physically and mentally.” However, she’s not done yet! She’s gearing up to lead Spain at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals next month in Malaga!
The competition is going to be fierce, especially with Poland and their star player, Iga Swiatek, in the mix. And the Spanish captain, Anabel Medina, is thrilled to have Badosa back on the team. Praising her current ranking and entry into this year’s US Open quarterfinals, she said, “She had us in suspense for more than a year due to a back injury, but luckily she is in exceptional shape!”
Perhaps this is the luck that Spain needs at the tournament. They will be facing a tough challenge right out of the gate against Poland and Iga Swiatek. Will Badosa rise to the occasion and help her country clinch the Billie Jean King Cup title? Only time will tell!
