Yulia Salnikova rarely discusses Stefanos Tsitsipas’ private life; however, recently shared insights into his experiences, including those related to Paula Badosa. Her words hinted at some criticism which has stirred discussion within the tennis community.
Salnikova noted, however, that while her son found them suitable, the highly public nature of their relationship put undue strain on him; being naturally shy himself he struggled under its demands.
“The constant photos, social media, and all the media attention gradually affected him. Although he said he enjoyed it, it was building up inside,” she added.
The relationship between Tsitsipas and Badosa was one of the most publicized romances in recent tennis history. The two first crossed paths at the Italian Open in May 2023, after Tsitsipas challenged himself to message Badosa if she won her second-round match. Following her victory, the message was sent, and their romance blossomed. Their relationship was very visible to fans and media alike, featuring a shared Instagram account, coordinated posts, and significant public interest. They briefly separated in May 2024 but later reconciled, even competing together in mixed doubles at the French Open.
Rumors of difficulties arose later on. After a disappointing Wimbledon 2025 performance, sources close to the couple confirmed their breakup. Social media confirmed the split in November 2025 when Badosa celebrated her birthday wearing a sash declaring herself “Sexy and Single.”
Since the breakup, Tsitsipas has faced struggles on the court. A back injury, a challenging North American hard-court season, and a drop in ranking to world No. 34 by the end of 2025 have marked a difficult period for the Greek player. By early 2026, he fell out of the top 50 for the first time since 2018 and currently sits at world No. 75 following a first-round exit at the Italian Open.
Badosa also experienced setbacks toward the end of the year. Although she began 2025 strongly, reaching the Australian Open semifinals and returning to the top 10, chronic back issues resurfaced alongside a torn labrum in her hip. These challenges contributed to her dropping to No. 25 at the end of 2025 and falling out of the top 100 currently. She has participated in several tournaments this year but struggled to regain form, prompting her to skip the Rome tournament and take a mental break ahead of Roland Garros, with her participation in Paris uncertain.
Both players have since moved forward in their personal lives. Tsitsipas shared in an interview that he would avoid dating fellow tennis players in the future due to inevitable competition. According to his mother, he appears to have found stability with a new partner.
Yulia Salnikova on Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Current Relationship
Salnikova spoke about Tsitsipas’ current relationship with Kristen Thoms, expressing a positive outlook. “I think he’s matured in every way. And his girlfriend’s presence has helped him tremendously. She’s given him a very comfortable emotional life,” she said.
She described Thoms as “a very sweet girl” who understands tennis, having played at the university level, and has built a career in marketing and player representation. Salnikova revealed that the couple communicates through handwritten letters as well as texts, mentioning, “Stefanos dreamed of a relationship like this.”
The relationship between Tsitsipas and Thoms became public earlier this year. Despite being relatively new, Tsitsipas finds peace in Thoms, citing her as the person he turns to during difficult moments in matches. He noted that she has been supportive for a long time and highlighted their connection through shared familiarity with tennis from her college playing days.
Kristen Thoms now regularly attends Tsitsipas’ matches and those close to the player- including his mother- are aware of her special place in Tsitsipas’ life. Their mutual affection can clearly be seen.
Yulia Salnikova’s subtle contrast between Tsitsipas’ past and current relationships was powerful: his former relationship with Badosa had left him emotionally exhausted while his current one fosters growth and emotional wellbeing.