Spanish tennis talent Paula Badosa recently gave fans an admirable glimpse into her world, sharing a photo from a practice session with Russian-Kazakhstani star Elena Rybakina. The moment offered a unique look at two players on different paths: Badosa, the World No. 25, has concluded her injury-plagued 2025 season, while Rybakina is gearing up for the prestigious WTA Finals.
Why Are Paula Badosa and Elena Rybakina Training Together?
Badosa, a New York City native, saw her season end early during the 2025 China Open. She had to retire from her round-of-32 match against Karolína Muchová due to a left hip injury. Following a season filled with challenges, she has made the most of her time off the court.
The four-time WTA singles titleholder is known to be close friends with the current World No. 1, Aryna Sabalenka, and was seen on a dinner outing with her just a few days ago. Adding to her off-court friendships, she recently shared a friendly selfie with Elena Rybakina, showing her appreciation for their time together.
She wrote, “Always fun with this girl @lenarybakina💞✌️”
On the other hand, Elena Rybakina, a winner of ten WTA singles titles, has qualified for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The elite player secured her spot after defeating Victoria Mboko in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open. Rybakina last competed at the 2025 Pan Pacific Open but withdrew from her semifinal match because of a back problem.
The Moscow, Russia, native will play with the sport’s top players. The star-studded field includes Sabalenka, the first to qualify, followed by Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini.
Despite coaching changes, Rybakina has performed impressively this season. She won the 2025 Ningbo Open by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final round. Before that, she clinched the Internationaux de Strasbourg, overcoming Liudmila Samsonova in three sets.
Looking ahead to her WTA Finals campaign, Czech-American legend Martina Navratilova shared her analysis of Rybakina via the WTA Tour.
READ MORE: Elena Rybakina Spotted Enjoying Tokyo With Coach Stefano Vukov After Controversial Pull Out
“When she won Wimbledon in 2022, the future looked bright. Her game is beautiful. She has such easy power and she moves well. The serve is a killer. She has all the shots and she’s proven she can win on any surface.”
Despite the recurring injuries that ultimately cut her season short, Paula Badosa showed flashes of her talent in 2025. She reached the German Open, the Internationaux de Strasbourg quarterfinals, and the Merida Open Akron. Her best performance came at the Australian Open, where she made it to the semifinals before losing to her best friend, Aryna Sabalenka.
However, the physical toll of the season was clear, as injuries forced her to withdraw from the Citi DC Open, Cincinnati Open, Madrid Open, Italian Open, and Canadian Open.
