Paula Badosa claps back at 'brutal' criticism as new information about Karolina Muchova and her withdrawal from China Open doubles comes to light
Paula Badosa faced backlash from players and fans following her and Karolina Muchova’s withdrawal from the women’s doubles at the China Open after winning their first-round match. Badosa has clapped back at the criticism as new information suggests that Muchova's injury led to their withdrawal.
Badosa and Muchova got the better of Irina Khromacheva and Anna Danilina in the first round of the 2024 China Open. However, the Spanish-Czech pair withdrew from the event before the second round.
In a lengthy message of disapproval, Khromacheva was furious at the WTA as she "lost to singles players in doubles" and they had withdrawn later as they "don't care about doubles." The Russian believed there was no respect for doubles players on the WTA Tour. Some fans also resonated with the Russian's views.
However, according to an image uploaded by an X account, Badosa and Muchova's withdrawal was due to the Czech suffering a right wrist injury. In the post, Badosa clapped back at criticism and wrote:
"People judge without fully understanding anything. It's brutal," (translated from Spanish).
Muchova, however, continues to compete in the singles and will take on Cristina Bucsa in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event.
Notably, Badosa has withdrawn from the doubles event four times this year - in Stuttgart and Washington with Ons Jabeur, in Berlin with Victoria Azarenka, and in Beijing with Muchova.
Despite the criticism and outside noise surrounding her withdrawal from the doubles event, Badosa remains unfazed in her singles campaign at the China Open. She advanced to the quarterfinals after a victory over second-seed Jessica Pegula in the fourth round, showing no signs of distraction.
Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova continue to compete in singles at the China Open 2024
Although the pair of Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova have withdrawn from women's doubles at the 2024 China Open, they continue to advance in the singles.
On Tuesday, October 1, Badosa pulled off an impressive 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula. The World No. 19 avenged her Cincinnati Open semifinal loss against the American to continue a successful hard-court swing.
Badosa will take on Chinese player Zhang Shuai in the quarterfinals of the China Open. Shuai has defeated the likes of Emma Navarro and Magdalena Frech on her way to the last eight.
Meanwhile, Muchova will take on Cristina Bucsa in the fourth round of the WTA 1000 event in Beijing on Wednesday, October 2. The winner will face either top seed Aryna Sabalenka or 18th seed Madison Keys.