Former two-time French Open runner-up Alex Corretja has made a bold prediction as he believes that Paula Badosa is "destined" to win a Grand Slam title.
At the start of 2025, the Spaniard made her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't go further after losing to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
While the start of the year brought some positives, the rest of the season was pretty rough and challenging for Badosa. Once again, the 28-year-old's chronic back issue started to cause her major problems and she ended up playing only 10 main-level tournaments after Australia. And it was tough for the Spaniard to find any rhythm as she was mostly losing early.
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After playing her last tournament of the 2025 season in September, the former world No. 2 took some time off to address her back injury. She returned to action by taking part in the World Tennis League - an exhibition event that took place in India last week.
"Spanish women's tennis needs Badosa; she is its emblematic figure, the highest-level player with a strong personality. I hope she will be in full physical shape and finds the right balance to play at her best, both technically and mentally," Corretja told Eurosport.
Corretja: Badosa is a player destined for a Grand Slam win
"I think Paula is a player destined for a Major title, to reach the peak of her dreams, and she will only achieve this if she avoids injuries and significant fluctuations in her form. I believe she has always dreamed, mentally, of accomplishing something unimaginable for most, and I think she is capable of it," Corretja explained.
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For Badosa to have any chance of becoming a Grand Slam champion, she will need to stay healthy for a longer period as that's the only way she can find her best tennis going into a Major.
