Spain’s Paula Badoza has raised new questions about the fitness that her fitness heads into Clay Court season after former World No. 2 withdrew from this month’s Charleston Open with a hip injury and did not provide a timeline for her return.
Badosa dropped out of the world’s top 50 rankings due to a series of injuries, including chronic lower back issues that she considered resigning last year, but the 27-year-old reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open in January.
She then left midway through the Merida quarterfinals with Dahlia Savile, skipping Indian wells before exacerbating the problem again, and pulling Clara Towson out of the Miami Open on Monday following her third victory.
“Hello everyone. Just know I had to withdraw from Miami and upcoming tournaments,” World No. 11 said on Instagram after the Charleston Open confirmed that she was pulled out.
“It’s so sad and difficult to deal with the pain… I stop and come back every time.
“Now it’s time to go through the recovery process again. Hopefully, I’ll be back soon.”
The Charleston Open will take place from March 31st to April 6th before some of the prominent clay court tournaments leading up to the French Open in late May.