Paula Badosa has officially withdrawn from the US Open, hours after sparking speculation by posting an emotional message on Instagram. The Spaniard has not competed since her Wimbledon first-round defeat against Britain’s Katie Boulter in three sets.
And she will extend her absence throughout the US Open, which runs from August 24 to September 7 in Flushing Meadows, New York. Badosa was expected to feature in the women’s singles and mixed doubles alongside Jack Draper, in which the prize for the winning duo is £740,000.
However, the British world No. 5 is now without a partner again, having been previously paired with China’s Qinwen Zheng for the new-look event.
It remains to be seen whether Draper will look for a third partner or whether he will commit his full focus towards the men’s singles.
Badosa’s participation was in doubt when, on Friday morning, the 27-year-old took to social media with an emotional address.
She shared her journey through injury setbacks and personal battles away from the tennis court, pairing the lengthy caption with a black and white image of herself.
To be the first to receive the latest tennis news, join our WhatsApp community or newsletter
I wasn’t built by easy days. I was shaped by the moments that broke me, the choices that didn’t go as planned, and the times I fell short of who I wanted to be,” Badosa penned on Instagram.
“My setbacks weren’t signs that I was weak; they were necessary chapters in a story that’s still being written.
“Failure taught me what success never could. It humbled me. It forced me to look inward, to ask hard questions, to rebuild with more intention and clarity.
“Every mistake I made sharpened my understanding of who I am and who I’m not. And while I once feared those mistakes, I now see them as some of my greatest teachers.
“There were times I thought I’d lost everything, my direction, my confidence, my sense of worth.
“But looking back, I realise I was only losing what no longer served me. Every loss gave space for growth. Every closed door redirected me toward a better one.
“I’m not proud of every moment in my past, but I am proud of the person those moments created. The human I am today is more resilient, more aware, and more grounded because of everything I’ve survived and learned.
“I don’t run from failure anymore. I respect it because it’s the reason I stand here… Stronger, wiser, and still becoming.”