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Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka's blockbuster second-round clash at the 2024 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart ended in heartbreak after the Spaniard was forced to retire due to injury.
Sabalenka and Badosa engaged in a closely contested contest in the second round of the WTA 500 event. After the World No. 2 edged past Badosa to clinch the opener 7-6(4), the Spaniard battled back to take the second set 6-4. The decider progressed similarly, with the score tied at 3-3, promising a thrilling conclusion.
However, the contest was derailed after Badosa injured her left thigh, forcing her to retire. The 26-year-old initially kept a brave face as she shared a warm embrace with Aryna Sabalenka at the net.
However, as the Belarusian offered words of encouragement to her close friend, Badosa's emotions spilled over, leading to her sobbing in the two-time Grand Slam champion's arms.
After an injury-plagued 2023 season, Paula Badosa's misfortunes have persisted in 2024, as she has been forced to retire mid-match at the Thailand Open, the Dubai Tennis Championships and now in Stuttgart.
Furthermore, injury setbacks have caused her to forgo competing at the Abu Dhabi Open and the Indian Wells Open entirely.
Aryna Sabalenka on her friendship with Paula Badosa: "It doesn't happen very often that you can find your soulmate"
Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka's closeness after the Spaniard's mid-match retirement in Stuttgart comes as no surprise, as the duo share a very tight friendship on tour and frequently gush over each other in the media.
The Belarusian has previously described Badosa as her "soulmate," opening up about how they managed to maintain a strong bond off the court despite their intense on-court rivalry.
"It is very difficult. It doesn't happen very often that you can find your soulmate on the circuit because we compete against each other. But we had this deal: on the court we are opponents, we can shout whatever we want, but off the court we are friends again," Aryna Sabalenka said.
"We can take a day, depending on who wins, to accept the fact that one of us lost, but then we become friends again. It's hard, and I'm super happy to have her. She is a very nice girl and having her by my side is very important to me," the Belarusian added.
Following Badosa's retirement from their clash, Sabalenka will face either Marketa Vondrousova or Anastasia Potapova in the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 event. The World No. 2 is looking for her maiden title in Stuttgart, following three consecutive runner-up finishes.
