"Pathetic victim mentality for millionaires" - Fans highlight Serena Williams' career; criticize Paula Badosa for claiming tennis is 'demanding'

Paula Badosa recently said that tennis is a 'demanding' sport, and fans have chastised the Spanish player by citing Serena Williams’ career trajectory.

In a recent interview with El Pais, Badosa said:

"It's not by chance. It is no coincidence that you see Ashleigh Barty retiring at 25. Naomi Osaka going through a mentally difficult period. Then Garbine Muguruza. It is no coincidence. This is a very demanding sport in which we are forced to play more & more weeks & you are very exposed. It doesn't surprise me.”

Since the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, Badosa has been away from court due to injuries. She withdrew from the French Open because of a stress fracture in her L4 vertebrae. A recurring back ailment forced her to retire mid-match in the second round at SW19.

Paula Badosa also pulled out of the 2023 Canadian Open and the US Open. In August, the former World No. 2 announced on social media that her injuries had forced her to end her season prematurely.

There was a spate of injury-related withdrawals for Naomi Osaka in 2022. After suffering an Achilles' heel injury in June, she had to give the grasscourt Major a miss. In September, she skipped the Toray Pan Pacific Open due to illness. The four-time Gram Slam winner also opened up about her mental health issues post her withdrawal from the French Open in 2021.

Ashleigh Barty announced her retirement from professional tennis in March 2022 when she was just 25 and was holding the World No.1 ranking.

Former World No. 1 Garbine Muguruza has been on an indefinite hiatus from tennis since January this year. She recently said in an interview with Women's Health that she had no plans of returning to professional tennis anytime soon.

Paula Badosa’s comments did not sit well with tennis fans and they started calling out the Spaniard on X (formerly Twitter).

“Pathetic victim mentality for millionaires," a user wrote.

Another fan addressed Serena Williams as a “once in a lifetime” tennis player, writing:

“Once again this proves why Serena Williams is a one of a kind HELL once in a lifetime tennis player. The sport will NEVER see a player like her ever again.”

Yet another fan commented:

“Not sure anyone is 'forced' to do anything. If you don't like your job, you have more options than most.”

Here are a few more reactions from tennis fans:

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Paula Badosa hits back at critics

Paula Badosa lashes out at critics

Paula Badosa has been dating Stefanos Tsitsipas for quite a while now, making the couple the talk of the town.

Some critics have suggested that Tsitsipas' loss of focus in tennis was due to his involvement with Badosa. The Spaniard recently said that the unfair criticism hurt her deeply.

Paula Badosa told EL Pais that she has been assisting her partner by accompanying him to the gym, being present on the court while he was playing, and respecting his team.

“That has hurt me a lot because with the whole issue of the injury, I have actually been able to dedicate myself quite a bit to helping him. We both love tennis and he is also a super-working person, we are very similar in the goals we set for ourselves,” Badosa said.

“We talk a lot about tennis and we help each other a lot. As you can see, I have gone to the court to support him or to the gym to accompany him, always respecting the times and his people, his team,” she added.

The 25-year-old further said that Tsitsipas has also been supportive of her and that fans' comments about their relationship impacted them.

“He has also supported me a lot with the injury, so when we read those things, it impacts us. Sometimes people are not able to understand how that can affect you, or affect a relationship," she said.