Paula Badosa has shared a touching comment on her close friend and fellow pro Emma Raducanu’s recent social media update. Amid their own setbacks during the Asian swing, Raducanu shared photos capturing her off-court experiences in Asia, and Badosa responded with a warm message that highlighted their close friendship.
What Challenges Did Paula Badosa and Emma Raducanu Face in Beijing?
Both players recently wrapped up their campaigns at the 2025 China Open, and neither could progress past the third round. Raducanu, seeded 30th, opened her run with a straight-set win over Cristina Bucsa before bowing out to Jessica Pegula in a dramatic three-setter. The Brit had three match points in the second set tiebreak but ultimately fell 3-6, 7-6(9), 6-0 to the American.
What a performance from Jessica Pegula in the deciding set! 💪
The American advances to the last 16 in Beijing after defeating Emma Raducanu ✅ pic.twitter.com/TsE2h45nw9
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) September 29, 2025
Badosa, the No. 18 seed, also had a difficult tournament. After defeating Antonia Ružić in her opener, she was forced to retire in her third-round match against Karolína Muchová while trailing 4-2. The Spaniard, who had only just returned to competition after a two-month break due to a back injury, appeared in visible distress as she left the court in tears following a left thigh and groin issue.
In an emotional post, Badosa later announced on Instagram that her 2025 season was over.
Duele verla así💔
Paula Badosa🇪🇸 tuvo que retirarse de su partido ante Karolina Muchova🇨🇿, en Beijing
❌La española recibió atención del fisio antes de no poder continuarpic.twitter.com/9SYuEl8IPo
— Iván Aguilar (@ivabianconero) September 28, 2025
Against that backdrop, Raducanu offered fans a lighter glimpse into her trip through photos showing her exploring cafes, sampling local dishes, and unwinding away from competition. She captioned the post, “asia thus far.”
View this post on Instagram
Badosa quickly chimed in with a heartfelt note, writing, “Such a cutie❤️ pd: thanks for listening to me 🫂.”
Badosa Explained Why She Connects With Raducanu
Ahead of their quarterfinal meeting at the 2024 Citi DC Open, Badosa spoke about the strong bond she shares with Raducanu.
“With her, honestly we spoke a lot. We had chats even off court. We went for lunch, for breakfast. We spoke a lot about how tough it is to deal with all these expectations – especially in her case. I had a little bit the same on my career. Especially when you feel that anything you do, it’s going to be crazy on social media. In her case it’s like that,” she said.
This was their first meeting on the WTA Tour, with the Spaniard eventually winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. She went on to defeat Caroline Dolehide and Marie Bouzkova to clinch her fourth WTA title.
MORE: ‘Painful Moments and Courage in the Face of Doubt’ — Paula Badosa’s Message as She Ends 2025 Season
