Tennis News: Paula Badosa's big fall and ATP discusses Alexander Zverev

Paula Badosa seems to be a very pleasant person and she does not hold back from discussing her health issues. She has been ranked as high as No. 2 on the WTA tour, but that feels like decades ago. She has battled so many different ailments that ever regaining her top-ten form seems nearly impossible.

Badosa wants to be great again and many tennis fans want her to reach her previous level as well, but her body simply won't allow it. Most recently, Badosa was bounced out of the Madrid Masters in the first round and this loss will cause her ranking to once again plummet. Heading into the event, she was barely holding on to a top-100 ranking. Now she is well past that.

Badosa is now 126 on the WTA. As far as pure talent, we know she is better than that. Because of injuries, she might be closer to retirement than winning another event. She has three titles to her name, but the last came in early 2022. This is a shame because she deserves better.

Paula Badosa falls again and the upcoming decision on Alexander Zverev

In other WTA rankings news, Aryna Sabalenka was able to hold on to No. 2 even though she lost to Iga Swiatek in the Madrid Masters final. Coco Gauff remains at No. 3 but still with a decent chance of overtaking Sabalenka this summer. The other notable change was Maria Sakkari falling from No. 6 to No. 8.

In more worrisome news, Alexander Zverev has an upcoming trial in his native Germany stemming from a domestic assault allegation from a former domestic partner. Zverev has disputed the charge and hence, the trial. That will start during the French Open later in May and Zverev is expected to play at the tournament.

In a recent interview with Clay Magazine, ATP Players' Advisory Council member Miguel Angel Reyes‐Varela discussed any action that might be taken against Zverev should he be found guilty. To be sure, any discipline against Zverev is solely about the Advisory Council and not whether he will continue to compete in tennis tournaments. Also, Zverev is innocent until proven otherwise, of course, though being found guilty is a potential outcome.

Reyes-Varela said, "If he is declared innocent, imagine if he were to be removed from the Council right now. It would be somewhat unfair, wouldn’t it? If he is found guilty, then the measures will be taken...I’m not sure about the details of the case, I don’t know enough. It’s wrong of me not to be more informed...I have not talked to Sasha personally. I don’t know him very well, from a meeting and a couple of details there I have seen that he does want to contribute to the Council and tennis issues."

He went on to discuss that whatever the trial decision was the Advisory Council would accept that. That seems an odd answer, however, because they would have to and that be the correct thing whether Zverev is found innocent or guilty. Should he be found guilty, though, the Advisory Council should take steps toward discipline well beyond simply removing Zverev from the Council itself.

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