Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova received criticism from fellow WTA player Irina Khromacheva after they withdrew from their second-round doubles contest at the 2024 China Open despite continuing to compete in singles. Khromacheva and Anna Danilina lost to Badosa and Muchova in the first round of doubles in Beijing.
Khromacheva and Danilina came to the China Open after winning two WTA Tour doubles titles on the trot (Guadalajara and Hua Hin). However, the doubles specialists were stunned in the first round of the WTA 1000 tournament by Karolina Muchova and Paula Badosa, 6-3, 6-2. Unfortunately, Muchova and Badosa withdrew from the doubles draw before their second-round match.
Their decision drew Khromacheva’s ire, who slammed the Czech and Spaniard, for ignoring the doubles format and taking a spot away from a team that could play the second-round match. Khromacheva was even more disappointed by the fact that while Muchova and Badosa pulled out of the doubles match, they continued to play singles. Moreover, the Russian noted that Badosa had pulled out of doubles several times during the 2024 WTA Tour.
“It’s always gonna happen every once in a while, but Badosa has withdrawn from doubles in Round 2 in literally *every* tournament she’s played in this year. She clearly doesn’t take it seriously and it’s insanely disappointing to see her keep doing it,” a fan stated.
Another fan said, “Agree that there needs to be respect for doubles .. it’s a major way to grow the game and promoting doubles specialists will allow more players to earn from the sport. There must be fines and bans for withdrawals with out injury!”
“I hate when singles players take doubles for granted because they take away chances from players who take doubles seriously since they really need the paycheck to continue to stay on tour,” a fan tweeted.
Some fans took a stand for Badosa, stating that she was not entirely at fault for her previous doubles withdrawals as her partners had suffered injuries and forced the team out of competition.
“Every time, Badosa ‘s partners initiated the withdrawals, like Vika Azarenka & Ons Jabeur. Because they were injured too,” a fan said.
“Every time? Stuttgart – Paula retired from singles the day before. Berlin – Paula wasn’t even in the singles draw. Washington – Ons pulled out of her singles and has barely played since. Not sure here, but you’d think Muchova would be equally as likely to have made the decision,” another fan commented.
Fans also called out Khromacheva, saying she should have defeated singles specialists in the doubles format rather than criticizing them afterward. Another fan also sarcastically pointed out that Badosa and Muchova should have sold their second-round spot. Khromacheva was banned from the professional tour for a month in 2019 for trying to sell her spot at a tournament.
“Maybe she just needs to be a better player and win and this won’t be an issue,” a fan wrote.
“IKR? Couldn’t Badosa and Muchova have just a tiny bit of integrity to simply sell their spot in the doubles draw to players who actually need it — you know, like the girls who have RESPECT for fellow players do?” a fan wrote sarcastically.
Paula Badosa has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2024 China Open in the singles category. The Spanish No. 1 has continued her resurgence on the WTA Tour in recent weeks and is yet to drop a set in Beijing. Seeded 15th, Badosa has so far ousted Viktoriya Tomova, Rebecca Sramkova, and second seed and 2024 US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula.
Consequently, the 26-year-old has reached the quarterfinals of the China Open for the first time in her career. Badosa will now face off against Chinese star Zhang Shuai for a spot in the semifinals. Shuai, currently ranked outside the top 500, not only broke her 24-match losing streak at the China Open but won four matches on the trot, including a top 10 triumph over Emma Navarro, to reach the last eight stage.
Paula Badosa has turned around her form since the North American hard court swing. She picked up her first WTA Tour title of the year at the Citi Open, reached the semifinals at the Cincinnati Open, and reached the second Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open.
