Wednesday was a special day for Paula Badosa. The former number 2 in the world will reappear on the occasion of the Billie Jean King Cup after four months out due to back problems.
This will be the opportunity to close a very difficult year for the Catalan, who has not been able to reach the level that brought him to the top in previous campaigns, adding to a complicated 2022 in which he will also have He lived through bitter moments because of non-racquet related issues.
We talked about the Catalan controversy that put him in the eye of the storm. In case anyone doesn’t remember, Badosa gave an interview somewhere They asked him how many languages he spoke. “Spanish, Catalan (well, Catalan is not a language but I count it) and English” was his answerwords that greatly distressed some despite the clarification made by the player himself a few days later when he saw the wave of attacks he was receiving.
“The interviewer told me that Catalan doesn’t count as a language and I have to express it that way. I am sorry that the news was misinterpreted.because it is something that affects me and that is wrong, so I apologize for this misinterpretation,” he said in an interview with Rac1.
This explanation did not help him much, as he continued to receive criticism that affected him greatly. “I had such a bad time that it took me a year to get home, and for me that was very difficult. I had a very bad timevery close to the years where I had so many problems,” admitted Badosa in an interview published this Tuesday in ‘El País’.
“A lot of things hit me, and I think there’s a lot of tension in Catalonia. I feel a little sad. People are quite radical and I think they are very sensitive to this issue, so I understand it. I can make mistakes, but I’m human. I have always dedicated myself to sports, so a detail like this might escape me; I’m a realist, I don’t know everything…” added one from Begur, clarifying his feelings on Catalan and Catalonia.
“I was born in the United States, my whole family is Catalan and I represent Spain. So, mentally, I’m like a citizen of the world. I love getting to know cultures and countries, and I’m very -open because I was brought up that way. When I play for Spain, I get excited and I get goosebumps, I love playing for my people, and My people are Spain, but so is Catalonia. At home I speak Catalan and my family is Catalan, I grew up there, my surnames are from there… And when I think about the concept of home, it’s Begur; In the end, I have a halo and even though I am a citizen of the world, my heart will always be in Girona. Ah! And I speak Catalan!“explains the former Indian Wells champion, who speaks that language, for example, with Rafa Nadal, as seen in the last edition of the United Cup held in January.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
