After two hours of intense on-court combat, Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka’s encounter came to a close.
It was the second time in a few weeks that the two good friends faced off, and for a while, it appeared that Badosa would avenge her loss in the Miami Open a few weeks prior.
She led early but lost the first set in a tie-break. She recovered to win the second set, but was forced to quit in the third at 3-3, although leading early in the decider.
The Spaniard felt some back pain in the second set, but she was starting to play well. The back issue was addressed off the court, but she began to limp and was eventually forced to retire.
Badosa retired in tears after dealing with several injury issues for over a year. Anytime she finally returns to health, the Spanish player suffers a setback, and Sabalenka, a close friend of hers, is well aware of this.
She talked about it after the match, acknowledging that it was sad to see her friend suffer another setback.
There is never a good time for an injury setback, but this one, coming just before the Madrid Open, is especially devastating because it is one of Badosa’s favorite events.
