"We have to normalize this" - Paula Badosa echoes Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu & others' sentiments about destigmatizing mental health discussion

Paula Badosa has called out the stigma around athletes receiving mental health care. She asserted that athletes aren't robots but only human beings who feel the same emotions as others.

Badosa, who has been troubled by various injuries for the past few years, is currently trying to make her way back up. Though she hasn't been enjoying much success on court, the former World No. 2 finally had a breakthrough at the 2024 Wimbledon Championship, where she made it to the second week. This was her first fourth round in a Major in two years.

The Spaniard recently sat down for a chat with Elle Spain, where she was asked to talk about how demanding tennis is since athletes have to take breaks to prioritize their mental health. The interviewer cited Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty, and Victoria Azarenka as examples.

The 26-year-old Badosa compared training the mind to training the body. She said if athletes go to the gym to strengthen their bodies, then seeing psychologists to strengthen their minds should be just as natural. She emphasized that athletes are humans, not robots, and feel emotions like everyone else. She reiterated that they need breaks sometimes, just like anyone else.

“We go to the gym to train our bodies, but why can't we go to a psychologist to train our minds? We have to normalise this and see that an athlete is just another human being: he is afraid, nervous, suffering, physically failing, emotions failing, exhausted... We are not robots. We have to stop, reflect, breathe, and recharge our batteries,” Paula Badosa said.

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"If you are afraid, do it with fear" - Paula Badosa opens up about the weight of pressure and reveals her mantra to deal with it

Paula Badosa (Image source: GETTY)

Paula Badosa was also asked what weighed on her mind the most while competing. The Spaniard said that it was the fear of failing and disappointing herself, her close ones, and her followers that weighed the most. She said her mantra - 'If you are afraid, do it with fear', helped her give her 100% even while facing the toughest situations.

"The fear of failure and of disappointment. Failing yourself, your people, your followers. Hence my phrase that I repeat like a mantra: 'If you are afraid, do it with fear.' My personality leads me to face it, no matter what happens, and as best I can."

The Elle Spain interview also featured a photoshoot of Paula Badosa, where the Spaniard stunned in various get-ups.