Step into the high-stakes world of pro tennis. The roar of the crowd can’t always drown out the lonely fight within. But wait—here comes a twist! Emma Raducanu, the dazzling 2021 US Open champion, has faced a relentless barrage of back, ankle, and wrist woes. Paula Badosa, meanwhile, is locked in her own fierce battle against a nagging lower back injury that’s cast a shadow over her 2025 campaign. Off the court, the Spaniard once described Emma as “Strong, fighter and beautiful,” being honest about their friendship that blossomed since last year. Now it’s Emma’s turn to return the love!
We’ve seen them share the court twice. Raducanu showed her prowess at the W25 event in Bolton, ousting the Spaniard in the quarterfinals. Paula got her revenge last year in Washington DC! But behind it all is a simple camaraderie that can’t be measured. They take the time to support each other!
Paula is facing some off-time since her back injury flared up during last month’s Miami Open. But as the WTA heads into clay season, she hyped up her fans on Instagram: “Ready to crank up the pulse? 🙃📈 @mutuamadridopen Always by the hand of @iberdrola 💚” She’s excited to take on the Madrid Open. Her stunning visuals caught the eye of the British No.1, who dropped a simple, “😍” in response to her beauty!
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What’s truly heartwarming? Seeing Emma and Paula genuinely cheer each other on! Last year, when Emma was fighting her way back, Paula was right there with the love. After that tough foot injury at the Korea Open, Emma bounced back strong at the Billie Jean King Cup, snagging a win for Britain!
As Emma buzzed with victory, she posted all about it on Instagram, captioning it with that funny “🇬🇧 there’s more milk in the fridge —>>> quarters.” And guess who left the most hype comment? Paula herself, with a big “Yes girl 🔥❤️”! And Emma’s cheeky reply, “@paulabadosa secret admirer 😉,” just shows how cool their friendship is—pure sportsmanship goals!
Even sharing the same birth month, the Briton and Spaniard share a zodiac sign, an adorable quirk in Emma’s present to Paula last year. She surprised Badosa with a handwritten note and a gift, adding a personal touch to their friendship. Raducanu dropped a wish on Instagram, writing, “Happy birthday my [scorpion] sis, us together is trouble. To many more laughs and hugs.”
Badosa later revealed the heartfelt note and gift on her Instagram story, expressing her appreciation. And talking about hyping up, the Spaniard, a few years older, has backed up the young star on her journey in tennis!
Paula expresses her thoughts on the pressure put on Raducanu
Paula Badosa couldn’t stop gushing about Emma Raducanu ahead of their Washington showdown in August 2024. She revealed their bond goes way beyond the court, saying, “With her, honestly, we spoke a lot. We had chats even off court. We went for lunch, for breakfast. We spoke a lot about how tough it is to deal with all these expectations, especially in her case. I had a little bit the same in my career. Especially when you feel that anything you do, it’s going to be crazy on social media. In her case, it’s like that.” Badosa, once dubbed “the next Maria Sharapova,” knows all too well the weight of expectations and the mental battles that come with sudden stardom.
The Spanird’s reputation on the WTA Tour is all about being supportive and easygoing, and she made it clear that Raducanu is no exception. She shared, “I think she’s dealing with it pretty well now. She’s found a balance. It’s never going to be easy in her case because, as I say, anything she does, it’s going to get crazy. But it’s part of it. I think she has to find the beautiful part of it. That’s what I’m trying to find also.”
Meanwhile, 2024 was a rollercoaster for Raducanu, who faced a string of injury setbacks. In March, she withdrew from the Miami Open with a lower back issue, then skipped the French Open and Paris Olympics due to concerns about switching surfaces. A foot ligament injury at the Korea Open in September forced her to retire mid-match and miss several Asian tournaments, including the China Open, Wuhan, Ningbo, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong events.
After a strong run to the Miami Open quarterfinals, Raducanu opted for a short break from tennis. She pulled out of Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup ties and the WTA 250 in Rouen, France, to recharge after her Miami efforts.
Now there’s a buzz about Emma Raducanu’s possible return at the Madrid Open in late April. She’s listed to play from April 22 to May 4. Paula Badosa is also eyeing a comeback after her back injury. The two could cross paths on the clay courts again. Will these friends and fierce competitors light up the tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
