INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – The resilience of Paula Badosa is being tested as she continues her attempt to regain her form on the WTA Tour. The Spaniard suffered a disappointing first-round defeat at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Wednesday, falling to Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-2. The loss marks another setback in what has been a challenging start to the 2026 season for the former champion.
Badosa, who won the Indian Wells title in 2021 and reached the semifinals in 2022, was unable to replicate that success this year. The match against Putintseva, ranked No. 76, was a stark illustration of her current struggles, lasting just over 90 minutes. This defeat continues a worrying trend for Badosa, who has now won only three matches in six tournaments played this season.
Her 2026 campaign began with a second-round showing in Brisbane, Australia, followed by a similar result in Dubai. But, first-round exits in Adelaide, Abu Dhabi, and now Indian Wells have painted a picture of a player battling to rediscover her best tennis. A withdrawal before the start of the Doha tournament further disrupted her momentum.
The recent results have contributed to a significant drop in the WTA rankings. Once ranked as high as No. 2 in the world five years ago, Badosa now sits at No. 106. This decline in ranking presents considerable challenges for her future tournament participation, potentially requiring her to compete in qualifying rounds for both WTA 1000 events and Grand Slams.
Much of Badosa’s recent difficulty can be attributed to persistent physical issues. A chronic back injury has plagued her for several seasons, limiting her ability to compete consistently. Since Wimbledon 2025, she has played only twelve matches, winning just four of them.
A period of relative health in the latter half of 2024 offered a glimpse of her potential. During that time, she secured a title in Washington – her first since 2022 – and reached the quarterfinals of the US Open, the semifinals in Cincinnati, and the semifinals of the Australian Open, which was her best Grand Slam result to date. These performances propelled her back into the top 10, but the return of back problems following Wimbledon 2025 quickly derailed her progress.
Badosa acknowledged the difficulties she faces in a recent social media post, responding to criticism regarding the 38 retirements throughout her career. “You have no idea what it’s like to live with a chronic injury and how it is to choose to keep fighting,” she wrote. “Waking up every day not knowing how your body will respond, looking for solutions, fighting for something you love and giving everything when it’s so difficult. Believe me, I am the first one who suffers the pain and has countless nightmares to find solutions. Being able to step on the court makes it all worthwhile, so I will keep trying. I will always attempt one more time. I do it for my passion for this sport and for myself.”
Despite the setbacks, Badosa remains determined to compete. She is planning to compete again in Miami in two weeks. Her career has develop into a testament to perseverance, echoing the sentiment expressed by Stan Wawrinka’s tattoo: “Fail again. Fail better.”
Yulia Putintseva’s victory over Badosa was her first completed win over the Spaniard in six meetings. [1] Putintseva will now face No. 17 seed Clara Tauson in the second round. The Kazakhstani player has shown strong form in 2026, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open.
The BNP Paribas Open continues in Indian Wells, with several other top players vying for the title. The tournament is a key warm-up event for the upcoming clay court season and the French Open.
What’s Next: Paula Badosa is scheduled to compete in Miami in approximately two weeks, hoping to turn her season around.
Archysport will continue to provide updates on Badosa’s progress and the BNP Paribas Open.
[1] WTA Tennis: Putintseva ousts former champ Badosa in Indian Wells opener
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