Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Mom Reveals ‘Sensitive’ Son’s Relationship with Paula Badosa Was ‘Difficult from the Beginning’

Stefanos Tsitsipas ended his title drought at the Dubai Open, but Paula Badosa ended the season without winning a trophy.

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Mom Reveals ‘Sensitive’ Son’s Relationship with Paula Badosa Was ‘Difficult from the Beginning’

Julia Apostoli, Paula Badosa, Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via Le Parisien, X/Express Sport)

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Paula Badosa finally confirmed on her 28th birthday that she is currently single and is not dating Stefanos Tsitsipas. They started dating earlier in 2023, but about a year later, they announced the split. But it didn’t last for more than a few weeks, and they got back together.

Things weren’t easy in their relationship from the very beginning, as revealed by Tsitsipas’ mom, Julia Apostoli, in her interview with Sports Ru. Earlier this year, they unfollowed each other and started deleting photos on their social media, which stirred speculation that the couple had broken up.

If we talk about the last year, of course, it was his breakup with Paula Badosa. That wasn’t easy either… Ultimately, this is certainly true. When I was a professional tennis player in my youth, I thought a man shouldn’t react so emotionally. For some reason, that’s how I felt. But it turns out that men are perhaps even more sensitive in this matter.

Julia Apostoli said

Badosa’s career has been marred by back problems. After her back stress fracture in 2023, she suffered quite a few early-round exits and withdrew mid-match from several tournaments. Because of the career-threatening injury, her doctors even advised her to stop playing. But Badosa chose to continue by taking cortisone shots and painkillers.

The most accurate answer would be: the relationship was not easy for him. Undoubtedly, it was an interesting relationship. It wasn’t an ordinary relationship, because it was long-distance. And they both started this relationship injured and in physical pain. When they started dating, Paula couldn’t play at all due to a back injury… The relationship was difficult from the beginning.

Julia Apostoli added

The WTA World No.25 ended the season with an 18-12 win-loss record. She failed to reach a final this year, playing a title clash last in the 2024 Citi Open, which she won by defeating Marie Bouzkova.

After giving the walkover to Karolina Muchova in the third round of the China Open due to an injury, the Spaniard decided to end her season. Badosa, in fact, made it to just one semifinal this year, at the Australian Open, where eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka knocked her out.

Julia Apostoli thinks Stefanos Tsitsipas produces good results when he works with his father

During that aforementioned interview, Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ mom, Julia Apostoli, said all the coaches who worked with the former World No.3 have failed to produce results. She thinks Tsitsipas gives his best when he is under the tutelage of his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas.

Stefanos Tsitsipas 1
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via X/ESPN)

Mark Philippoussis had the best results, but only when he and Apostolos worked together. Then Mark, let’s say, lost his way because he offered Step a one-on-one work. And that didn’t last very long.

Apostolos’ coaching partnership with his son ended last year, following which, the two-time Grand Slam finalist added Goran Ivanisevic to his team. Ivanisevic, who had a short partnership with WTA ace Elena Rybakina, didn’t stay in Tsitsipas’ team either for long period. After his split with the Croatian coach, Tsitsipas started working with his father again.

Tsitsipas did not have a great season this year. He reached just one final, at the Dubai Open, where he ended his title drought by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Tsitsipas also dropped out of the top 30 and currently occupies the No.34 position. The last Big Title that he lifted was the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters. It was in 2023 that he won multiple titles in a single season. His second-round match against Daniel Altmaier was his final match of the 2025 season. Due to back issues, he skipped the rest of the tournaments.

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