Dubai : Paula Badosa criticised a “disrespectful” online comment and vowed to continue fighting through injury after a right thigh problem forced her to retire from her second-round match at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The former world number two, who battled back into the top 10 last year following a series of injuries including a chronic back issue that left her contemplating early retirement in 2024, was leading Elina Svitolina 4-1 on Tuesday before losing five consecutive games to drop the opening set. The 28-year-old received treatment but then withdrew from the match.
Badosa later responded on social media to a user who accused her of disrespecting the sport.
“You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and still choose to keep going,” she 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.”
She said she had endured “endless nightmares” in her efforts to find lasting solutions but remained determined to continue her career.
“So I’ll keep trying,” Badosa added. “Because it’s all about trying and that won’t change. I’ll always try one more time. If there’s even a 1% chance to keep going, I’ll take it.”
Her remarks reignited debate about online abuse faced by players on social media.
“For me the only disrespect here is to open social media and read messages like this,” she said. “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 Women’s Tennis Association said protecting players and the wider tennis community from online threats and abuse remained a priority.
Australia’s Destanee Aiava said last week she would quit the sport this year, citing what she described as a “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile” tennis culture and the online negativity she had received.
Svitolina said she had received death threats after her Canadian Open defeat last season, blaming the “shameful” behaviour on disgruntled bettors.
A survey published last year by the WTA and the International Tennis Federation found that angry gamblers were responsible for 40% of detected abuse directed at players.
World number six Amanda Anisimova said the issue went beyond betting.
“I’d say it’s not just betting, it’s overall cyber bullying all the time,” she 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.”
