Paula Badosa

Spanish player who reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 and won the prestigious Indian Wells title in 2021.

Paula Badosa Gibert was born on 15 November 1997 in New York City, and moved to Spain with her family as a child, beginning tennis at seven. She won the girls' singles title at the 2015 French Open as a junior, reaching a career-high junior ranking of world No. 8, before turning professional that same year. Badosa's rise up the WTA rankings was steady rather than immediate, making her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2019 Australian Open before a breakthrough 2021 season, in which she won her first WTA singles title and then claimed a WTA 1000 title at Indian Wells in October, defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final. Badosa reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 2 on 25 April 2022, becoming one of the leading Spanish players of her generation, and reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Australian Open. She has spoken candidly about mental health struggles during periods of her career, describing stretches where she found it difficult to compete despite her ranking success. Badosa has continued to compete at the top level of the WTA Tour, renowned for an aggressive baseline game built around a powerful serve, and remains one of the most prominent Spanish players competing on tour.

Badosa plays an aggressive baseline style with powerful groundstrokes from both wings. She possesses a strong forehand and solid backhand, using her height and reach effectively to dictate rallies. Her game is built around consistent power and court positioning rather than finesse.

Badosa has helped elevate Spanish women's tennis to new heights, becoming one of the most successful Spanish female players of the modern era.

• Indian Wells champion (2021)
• peak ranking world No. 2