Paula Badosa has reached the second week of a Grand Slam before but her run at this year’s Wimbledon Championships is very different. 

The Spaniard has secured her place in the last 16 after suffering from a serious back injury so severe that at one point doctors warned she may have to retire. Badosa has been affected by pain in the region ever since suffering a stress fracture last season. Despite undergoing various treatments, the issue is long-term and she has injections so she can continue playing. 

“At the bottom of my heart, I wasn’t accepting it. I was, like, ‘I’m going to continue no matter what’. That’s also what made me the player I am, that I always want more,” Badosa said during her press conference.
“I’m always going to fight, however difficult that moment is, you know.
“Of course, there are some moments that there’s pain, and you don’t really know what to do. You a feel a bit lost. But I didn’t care. I remember telling to my team that I was going to play with pain.”

Given these circumstances, the 26-year-old was emotional following her latest win at The All England Club where she ousted an in-form Daria Kasatkina 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-4. A player who won the Eastbourne International last week and dropped no games in her previous match against Yuriko Miyazaki.

“Last year here I had to retire … I was on the couch and watching the tournaments from home. This year when I started, I didn’t know what was going to happen.” she reflected. 

Before her physical issues, Badosa has won three WTA titles so far in her career, including the prestigious Indian Wells Open in 2021. She has been ranked as high as No.2 in the world. 

At present, she is 93th in the PIF WTA rankings but was as low as 140th in May. A true testament to her determination in the sport. 

“I’ve always been tough mentally and a fighter, so I was going to do it anyway. So for me, I’m very proud that I’ve been through all of this,” she said.
“And now I’m again in the fourth round and playing at a good level, because sometimes when I came back (I was) struggling so much, my level wasn’t there.
“I felt so far away. Now, seeing myself back at it, it means a lot.”

Badosa will next play either Dayana Yastremska or Donna Vekic. 

Jasmine Paolini admits she used to find it a ‘nightmare’ to play big-hitting players but now she is ready for the challenge at Wimbledon. 

The world No.7 is through to the fourth round of the grasscourt major for the first time in her career after rallying to a 7-6(4), 6-1, win over former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu. Before this season, she had never won a Tour-level match on the grass. She has now won 12 Grand Slam matches in 2024 which is the joint-highest on the WTA Tour with Coco Gauff, who will play later today. 

“I’m feeling good. Every match, it’s different,” said Paolini. 
“I think I played really good three matches, especially the second and the third one. The first one I think I was a little bit more nervous.
“I’m just thinking of trying to play point by point. But it’s not easy.”

Things will only get harder for Paolini who will next take on Madison Keys. A player that is known as a tricky opponent at major events. Illustrated by the fact she has reached a Grand Slam fourth round or better on 20 separate occasions since 2015. 

In their only previous meeting on the Tour, Keys thrashed Paolini 6-1, 6-1, with the use of her powerful hitting. However, this time round the Italian believes she is better prepared to deal with that power. 

“It was a nightmare facing those players,” Paolini said in Italian when asked about facing powerful players.
“Against everyone, you can win or lose, but at least you can play a match with them. I just couldn’t stay in the match.
“Now I’m a bit more comfortable, more confident.”

Regardless of what happens, the 28-year-old has already sealed her name in the history books by becoming the first woman from her country to reach the fourth round or better at the first three Grand Slams of a season. 

“It’s strange,” she said of the achievement. “When I was watching the girls (Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta etc) that were winning slams, making finals, I felt like they were so far from me.
“It’s something that of course I’m proud of, but it sounds a little bit strange.”

Two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur has reiterated her concerns that the current Tour structure could put players in danger after moving into the third round at Wimbledon. 

The world No.10 moved into the last 32 after defeating Robin Montgomery 6-1, 7-5, on Thursday at The All England Club. Jabeur has now claimed 19 wins at Wimbledon since her debut in 2017, which is more than any other female player during this period. She is yet to drop a set in this year’s draw. 

This week marks Jabeur’s 13th tournament of the season which is less than some of her peers. She missed some events during the Middle East swing due to a long-term knee issue that she continues to manage. An issue she links to the current demands placed on players. 

“The scheduling and the amount of tournaments that they (the WTA) are adding right now doesn’t really help. Not just me, but any other player,” she said.
“I think we’ll see the results in a couple of years when you see like a lot of players are injured. It’s just Wimbledon right now. 
“I’m really curious how players will play the Olympics and the hard court season. Honestly, it’s going to be very tough.”

Both Aryna Sabalenka and Victoria Azarenka have withdrawn from Wimbledon this year due to shoulder injuries. Something that is likely linked to the number of matches they play. 

The most simple thing for players to do to protect their health is to streamline their schedule. However, that it isn’t always that easy with mandatory tournaments and rankings points up for grabs. A reason why Jabeur says she no longer looks at the standings. 

“I stopped looking a lot at the rankings because I enter everywhere.” She said.
“When I was outside of the top hundred or close to the top hundred, I was stressing a lot about the ranking. It did not do me any good. I was counting every point. If I win this, if I win that…
“At the end of the day, it is in my control to go and play the match full, do whatever you want, not look who is behind you, what they going to do. It was very stressful. I will not do that again.”

The Tunisian admits she does feel restricted by the WTA rules concerning mandatory tournaments. Although she concedes that playing those events is crucial in her bid to qualify for the WTA Finals, which will be held in Saudi Arabia for the first time this year. 

“I’m going with the flow and seeing (what happens), especially with my knee. For the first time, I’m trying to be cautious about the scheduling. Hopefully, I can make better decisions in the future.” She concludes.