Spain’s Paula Badosa slams online ‘disrespect’ after Dubai Tennis C’ships injury retirement

DUBAI – Paula Badosa lashed out on Feb 18 at a “disrespectful” comment online and vowed to prolong her injury-hit career after a right thigh issue forced the former world No. 2 to retire from her match at the already depleted Dubai Tennis Championships.

The Spaniard had worked her way back into the world’s top 10 in 2025 with strong displays after injuries, including a chronic back problem, left her contemplating early retirement in 2024.

Badosa went up 4-1 against Elina Svitolina in her second-round match in Dubai on Feb 17, but lost the next five games and dropped the first set, before the 28-year-old called for treatment and then decided to throw in the towel.

She later took to social media to hit back at an individual who said she disrespected the game.

“You have no idea what it's like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going,” Badosa wrote. “To wake up everyday not knowing how your body will respond, searching for solutions, and fighting for something you love and give everything even when it's so difficult.”

Badosa said she faced “endless nightmares” while trying to find lasting solutions, but being able to step onto the tennis court was worth the trouble.

“It’s all about trying and that won’t change,” she said. “I’ll always try one more time. I’m doing this for my passion... If there’s even a 1 per cent chance to keep going, I’ll take it. That’s just how I see and understand life.”

Her comments reignited a wider debate on players having to deal with hurtful social media comments.

“For me the only disrespect here is to open social media and read messages like this,” Badosa added.

“Then we complain if we see players suffering and having mental health issues, but I’m not surprised with the amount of hate and ‘experts’ we have here.”

The WTA told Reuters that protecting players and the wider tennis family from vile online threats and abuse remained a high priority for the governing body of the women's game.

Australia’s Destanee Aiava said last week that she would quit the sport in 2026, describing tennis culture as “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” as she highlighted the online negativity she had received.

Several women’s players have spoken about similar issues, with Svitolina saying she received death threats following her Canadian Open defeat last season, blaming the “shameful” behaviour on disgruntled bettors.

Angry gamblers were responsible for 40 per cent of the detected abuse at players, a survey by the WTA and the International Tennis Federation published in 2025 revealed.

“I’d say it’s not just betting, it’s overall cyberbullying all the time,” world No. 6 Amanda Anisimova said. “Commenting on everything, like my body all the time, every single day. It’s difficult.

“I don’t think that people realise the extent of it, how much of an effect it can have on someone.”

In on-court action in Dubai on Feb 18, Russian Mirra Andreeva set up a quarter-final against American Anisimova, after beating Jaqueline Cristian of Romania 7-5, 6-3.

World No. 5 Jessica Pegula also booked her last-eight berth after beating fellow American Iva Jovic 6-4, 6-2 on Feb 18. She will next face Dane Clara Tauson.

Top seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan then added to the string of retirements after she conceded to Antonia Ruzic of Croatia after being broken at the start of the third set.

The world No. 3, who won the Australian Open in January, took the first set 7-5 but needed a third to advance after losing the second 6-4. Ruzic will next face Svitolina, who won the battle of the mothers against Belinda Bencic of Switzerland 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.

Meanwhile, on the men’s tour, Russian Karen Khachanov was the first player to reach the Qatar Open last eight, after he saw off Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 on Feb 18.

Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas then advanced to his 84th Tour-level quarter-final by beating Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-4.

World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and second-ranked Jannik Sinner were also in action on Feb 18, but their matches against Alexei Popyrin and Valentin Royer respectively ended after press time. REUTERS