Paula Badosa on Pressure, Pain and Inner Peace
4/20/202651 min
Former World No. 2 Paula Badosa opens up to Caroline Garcia about the grueling reality of chronic injuries and the hidden struggles of the pro tour. Paula reveals the physical toll of playing matches on painkillers, the mental exhaustion of dealing with social media trolls, and the exclusive one-hour phone call with her idol, Rafael Nadal, that helped her navigate her darkest moments.
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In this episode, we cover:
- (00:00) The reality of chronic injuries and the Miami incident
- (04:01) Changing her tennis identity to protect her body
- (09:00) Escaping the lonely, intense energy of the Tour
- (14:00) The toxic trap of linking self-worth to winning
- (19:00) "Let's try one more time": Playing through the pain
- (26:00) Fighting back against social media trolls
- (37:00) The one-hour phone call with Rafael Nadal
- (41:00) The biggest mistake young tennis players make
- (49:00) Why she is chasing inner peace over happiness
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsPaula Badosa· Guest0:00
You don't know what I'm going through, you don't know that I'm trying every morning, you don't know how many nights I cried or I- Yeah ... have a, a chronic injury that I cannot disappear, you know? I'm the last one that I don't want to get injured or that I don't wanna withdraw. The body's, uh, hurting so much, I have to admit, I go every match with painkillers. And- Yeah ... I did now, like, four injections, and I'm like, "Wow, wow, I don't know if this is healthy enough for my body to continue like this." But then I love it so much, I have this passion, so I'm like, "Let's try one more time."
Caroline Garcia· Host0:30
Hello, insiders, it's Carol Garcia. Before we start, one quick thing. If you enjoy this conversation, hit the subscribe button. It's the best way to help us grow and keep bringing you the players and coaches you love. Thank you so much. Paula, thank you so much for being here.
Paula Badosa· Guest0:47
Pleasure.
Caroline Garcia· Host0:47
It's been more than a year now since we did the first episode.
Paula Badosa· Guest0:50
Mm.
Caroline Garcia· Host0:51
How are you?
Paula Badosa· Guest0:52
A lot of things have, uh, happened, uh, changed. Uh, I went through a lot, um, this last year, year and a... Yeah, it's been a year and a half Yeah, a year and a half.
Caroline Garcia· Host1:00
Yeah.
Paula Badosa· Guest1:00
Year and a half.
Caroline Garcia· Host1:01
Yeah.
Paula Badosa· Guest1:01
Um, but I'm okay. I'm, I'm getting there. Um, fighting, uh, through a lot of things.
Caroline Garcia· Host1:08
Mm.
Paula Badosa· Guest1:08
But, um, I'm, I'm here for now.
Caroline Garcia· Host1:10
[laughs] And, uh, when, when we talked the first time, uh, you were, you had amazing end of the year. And obviously the year didn't go at all as you expected, and, uh, you had to go, uh, through injuries again.
Paula Badosa· Guest1:24
Mm.
Caroline Garcia· Host1:24
Mentally, how, how was it to deal with this injury and being on the side of