Paula Badosa’s rough start to the 2025 season has certainly raised concerns about her form heading into the Australian Open. Despite being a top-seeded player and carrying high expectations, her struggles in both Brisbane and Adelaide have highlighted a need to regroup before the first Grand Slam of the year.
A Disappointing Brisbane Performance
Badosa’s early exit in Brisbane against Elina Avanesyan set the tone for a shaky start to the season. As the fourth seed, she was expected to overcome the World No. 44 with relative ease, but inconsistency and pressure led to a surprising 3-6, 6-1, 2-6 loss. The defeat also cost her a chance to face close friend Ons Jabeur, a matchup that could have provided her with a mental boost.
Adelaide: A Grueling Campaign
Badosa’s performance at the Adelaide International followed a similar pattern. While her victory over Peyton Stearns in a grueling three-hour first-round match showed resilience, it also underscored her struggles to close out matches efficiently.
Her second-round clash against Ashlyn Krueger turned into another marathon, with Badosa falling in three sets after yet another slow start. Despite flashes of brilliance, including a spirited comeback in the second set tie-break, Badosa’s inability to capitalize on break points in the final set proved costly. Krueger, riding the momentum of nine consecutive matches, showed poise under pressure and secured a well-deserved victory.
Badosa’s Challenges
The key takeaways from Badosa’s early-season performances are:
- Inconsistent Starts: Badosa has struggled to find her rhythm early in matches, often falling behind and needing to play catch-up.
- Missed Opportunities: Her inability to convert key break points, particularly in the deciding sets, has been a recurring issue.
- Physical and Mental Fatigue: Long, grueling matches this early in the season may indicate either conditioning issues or a need for mental adjustments.
Looking Ahead to the Australian Open
Despite the setbacks, Badosa remains one of the higher-seeded players heading into the Australian Open, which could give her an advantage in the draw. However, she will need to address her early-match sluggishness and find ways to close out opportunities against lower-ranked players.
With the right adjustments and some confidence-building wins, Badosa has the tools to make a deep run in Melbourne. Still, her recent results suggest that she will need to bring her best game from the very first round to avoid more early exits.