After finishing her season early due to injury, Paula Badosa reunited with her fellow tennis player and close friend Aryna Sabalenka. The two friends enjoyed a “date” in Dubai, the country where the Spaniard is based.
Badosa had to end her tennis season prematurely after competing in the 2025 China Open because of chronic back pain, which she has been managing since 2023.
Paula Badosa and Aryna Sabalenka Spent Time Together by Going on a ‘Date’ in Dubai
Over the past couple of years, Badosa has frequently been in and out of competition due to this back injury. This year, she missed several major tournaments, including the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Madrid Open, Italian Open, and the entire North American hard-court swing, which included the US Open, due to her injury.
The former World No. 2 last competed at the 2025 China Open. She was seeded 18th at the tournament and began her campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
Badosa won her opening match against Antonia Ružić with a score of 6-3, 7-6(2). However, she had to retire from her third-round match against the 13th seed, Karolína Muchová, during the first set with the score at 4-2 retd., due to a left hip injury.
After concluding her run at the WTA 1000 hard court tournament in Beijing, Badosa announced the end of her 2025 season. Since taking time away from tennis, she has been spending quality moments with her loved ones, including her mother, Mireia Gibert, her sister, Jana Badosa, and her friends, by going on a vacation in Bali and Lombok in Indonesia.
Since returning from Indonesia, Badosa shared a picture of Sabalenka sitting in a restaurant on social media, captioning it as her favorite “date.”
“My fav date @arynasabalenka 💖💖💖 finally!” Badosa captioned her Instagram story.
Sabalenka also posted a picture from the restaurant, mentioning she was on a “date” with “someone special,” referring to Badosa.
“On a date with someone special 😝,” Sabalenka captioned her Instagram story.
Sabalenka most recently competed in the 2025 Wuhan Open, where she was the three-time defending champion. She previously won the title in 2018, 2019, and 2024 by defeating Anett Kontaveit, Alison Riske, and Zheng Qinwen, respectively.
This year, the World No. 1 triumphed over Rebecca Šramková (4-6, 6-3, 6-1), 16th seed Liudmila Samsonova (6-3, 6-2), and eighth seed Elena Rybakina (6-3, 6-3). However, she lost in the semifinals to the eventual runner-up, sixth seed Jessica Pegula, with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 6-7(2).
