Paula Badosa Blasts ‘Toxic’ Ex-Boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas, Opens Up About Struggles to Recover from Breakup: “He Deserves Attacks”

About one year after her breakup with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Paula Badosa has opened up. And while doing so, she did not hold back from harshly criticizing the Greek ace, calling him “toxic”.

Badosa is in Berlin and started her campaign in a strong fashion, knocking out Suzan Lamens in the first round before upsetting fifth seed Coco Gauff. And it was during the press conference later that Badosa revealed how difficult it was for her to recover after the breakup.

I’ve been through a lot of breakups in my life; I accept them, and I know things are the way they are. But when there are toxic things around, it makes everything much harder than a normal breakup. You can have a great relationship with an ex because they’re normal people and it’s a normal relationship. But when it’s not like that… I don’t need to explain any further. You can see every day that the other person makes everything harder.

They started dating in 2023, and about a year later, they split. But just before the French Open, they got back together. They split after Wimbledon later, and this time, they broke up for good.

Badosa said she has finally started feeling strong and also joked that Tsitsipas really deserves criticism.

Finally, it’s been a few months since I’ve been in a good environment, but getting past the toxic things around me wasn’t easy. But it’s something you have to go through as a woman, and I’m feeling strong again… Now I want to see tomorrow’s headlines: ‘Paula attacks Tsitsipas’… Well, he deserves it!

Paula Badosa added

Badosa confirmed the split after sharing pictures of her wearing sashes that read, “Sexy & Single” and “28 and Still a 10” on her 28th birthday last year. Tsitsipas then went public with his new girlfriend Kristen Thoms, a former college tennis player.

Paula habla por primera vez en una rueda de prensa sobre lo dura que ha sido para ella su ruptura con Tsitsipas. Ya antes había hablado de "problemas personales", de tener "gente adecuada" a su alrededor, de pasar por "estrés" y "mucho drama". Para colmo, últimamente ha tenido… pic.twitter.com/inAetI1E4F

— David Orenes (@david_lrl) June 18, 2026

Aryna Sabalenka supports best friend Paula Badosa after her breakup with Stefanos Tsitsipas

Aryna Sabalenka and Paula Badosa are best friends. So when Badosa ended her relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sabalenka rushed in to support her.

Honestly, when she finished the whatever-she-called-it, I was that friend that sent her an audio [message], like two minutes, laughing, screaming, saying ‘Yes, girl! You made it!’

Aryna Sabalenka said (H/T: Bounces)

Badosa initially refrained from talking about her relationship with Tsitsipas. All the comments that came were from Tsitsipas’ side. Earlier this year, Tsitsipas said he preferred “non-tennis girlfriends“ because there’s “competitiveness, there’s always competitiveness“. Under the comment section, Badosa dropped four laughing emojis.

And then Tsitsipas’ mom, Yulia Salnikova, said the relationship with Badosa was a “burden for him“ because her “introverted” son couldn’t handle the “photos, social media, and all the media attention“.

Tsitsipas is not competing in any grass-court events. He was last seen in action in the second round of the French Open, where Matteo Arnaldi knocked him out in four sets. The two-time Grand Slam champion is struggling with form issues and physical setbacks. And so is Badosa.

The Spanish ace will next face Linda Noskova in Berlin. It is at this tournament that the 28-year-old clinched a match win for the first time since the Charleston Open, as she had lost four consecutive opening-round matches before this.

Badosa has already dropped out of the top 100. She currently is a No.142 player, while Tsitsipas stands in the 80th spot. Both once used to be in the top 5. Badosa is a former World No.2, while Tsitsipas is a former World No. 3, and they used to be Grand Slam contenders, but now they are just shadows of their former selves.

Also read: Andy Murray Reveals Reasons for Accepting Coaching Role Under Jack Draper