Stefanos Tsitsipas’ recent tennis achievements may take second place to his personal issues, which have recently garnered greater media coverage than before. His relationships with both Paula Badosa (his ex-partner) and his father are under intense scrutiny by media, with Yulia Salnikova recently calling this relationship “burdensome.” However, Paula Badosa’s coach Pol Toledo responded negatively by criticizing Salnikova’s statement as stemming from an unstable ego; further fuelling conflict over his private matters of Tsitsipas’ life.
Toledo noted that Stefanos has struggled to accept that Paula outshone him in their relationship, suggesting she endured emotional challenges during their time together. Additionally, Toledo alluded to how their unstable family situation negatively impacted Badosa’s physical wellbeing; explaining she needed stability but instead found difficulties that took their physical toll.
The tension intensified after Salnikova expressed that Badosa’s influence harmed her son’s career, calling their relationship a burden for him. She spoke of how the constant media attention and social media presence gradually wore on Tsitsipas, despite his claims of enjoying the spotlight.
This disagreement has deepened the strain between the two families, making the public breakup saga increasingly complicated. Badosa and Tsitsipas began dating in spring 2023 and were frequently in the public eye, sharing social media posts and magazine features.
During their relationship, both players experienced declines in performance and dealt with injuries, suggesting the pressures of their romance affected their professional lives. They officially ended things in summer 2025 after early exits at Wimbledon.
Afterward, Badosa responded calmly to questions about the split, describing it simply as part of life. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas moved on to date Kristen Thoms, a former collegiate tennis player turned model. His family, however, continues to reference Badosa in the media. Toledo’s remarks also recall Tsitsipas’ earlier admission that he prefers his partner not to be a tennis player, a mindset seemingly reflected in his current relationship.
For Badosa, challenges on court continue unabated. With Toledo speaking publicly on her behalf, the weight of scrutiny adds to her already hectic personal and professional life.
Ongoing Struggles for Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas
On the court, Paula Badosa is facing one of the toughest periods in her career. A series of injuries has taken a serious toll, prompting her to take a break from the WTA tour to focus on physical and mental recovery. She shared that she felt completely drained at a recent tournament and decided with her team to pause for an indefinite period to regain strength.
Her ranking has suffered as a result, dropping her out of the WTA top 100 to 102nd place. Despite winning four WTA titles previously, she is yet to capture a title this season. So far this year, she has recorded nine wins and 12 losses, highlighting ongoing inconsistencies.
Badosa had initially been listed for the French Open qualifying draw but was later removed, indicating uncertainty about her participation in the clay-court Grand Slam starting soon.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has also seen his singles ranking fall to world No. 75; and has not made the quarterfinals in any recent tournament he entered, including losing in the opening round at Italian Open last clay tournament.
As both athletes face these challenging periods in their careers, fans eagerly anticipate seeing stronger performances on tour and an eventual comeback to form.