Paula Badosa narrowly escaped disqualification during her 2026 Iași Open campaign. Her narrow comeback victory against Tamara Zidanšek in the semifinal resulted in a tense moment, with the Spaniard hurling her racket toward the stands after losing a point during a crucial moment in the match.
Badosa’s act of frustration drew widespread condemnation across the tennis world, with Serena Williams’ coach, Rennae Stubbs, among those who criticized her actions.
Rennae Stubbs Makes Feelings Clear on Paula Badosa’s Conduct
Badosa entered the Iași Open after winning the WTA 125 event in Båstad. In the semifinals, she was looking to extend her eight-match winning streak, having beaten Anhelina Kalinina, Alevtina Ibragimova, and Panna Udvardy en route.
At one point during her 3-6, 7-5, 7-6(1) win against Zidanšek, the former World No. 2 lost her cool and launched her racket into the stands, narrowly avoiding a potentially serious incident as it came dangerously close to hitting a spectator. The chair umpire promptly issued an unsportsmanlike conduct warning.
While Stubbs, a former doubles World No. 1, praised Badosa’s performances, she could not overlook the Spaniard’s controversial conduct during the semifinal. In her view, Badosa had played with fire by allowing her frustration to get the better of her.
“That was absolute disgrace. You know, as a player, when you let go of a racket out of your hand, whatever happens after that is on you, no matter even if it’s ‘unlucky.’ Like, ‘Oh, I didn’t mean to hit that thing, and then it flicked up and went in.’”
“You had the control of the racket in your hand, and you let it go. Whatever happens after that is on you,” she said on her recent episode of the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.
The Australian believed a fine alone was not an adequate punishment for the incident, arguing that players should face harsher sanctions.
“And if it goes into the stands, you should absolutely be defaulted immediately. And that is the only way to stop it.”
The rules governing player misconduct and disqualifications have often come under scrutiny for their perceived inconsistency. Past disciplinary decisions have factored in elements such as a spectator’s reaction when determining the appropriate punishment.
After her narrow win in the semifinal, Paula Badosa failed to replicate her success in the title clash against Mayar Sherif. She retired from the match while trailing 4-6, 0-4 due to illness but assured a return at the WTA 250 Hamburg Ladies Open. She faces Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa in the first round on Wednesday.
