Paula Badosa called her Iași Open 2026 final retirement one of the worst moments of her career.
The Spaniard was forced to withdraw while trailing Mayar Sherif 6-4, 4-0 in the WTA 250 final after her body gave out mid-match. She took two medical timeouts in the second set and had her left leg strapped, but couldn't hold on past four games.
"I hate this moment right now," Badosa said on court. "I couldn't keep up with my body, so I apologize for that."
But the retirement wasn't the only story from Romania.
What Went Wrong for Badosa at the Iași Open 2026?
In the semifinal against Tamara Zidansek, Badosa hurled her racket into the stands after missing an overhead smash. No one was hit, but the moment drew sharp backlash. Rennae Stubbs, Serena Williams's former coach, argued Badosa should have been defaulted immediately.
Despite the controversy, Badosa's recent WTA scores point to a player on the rise.
A nine-match winning streak pushed her back into the top 100 at No. 93, securing direct entry into the US Open. She's carried that momentum into WTA Hamburg, beating Katarzyna Kawa 7-5, 6-4 in the first round.
She'll next face Italian Panna Udvardy in Round of 16 play this week.
