Paula Badosa left little room for interpretation of her feelings after ex-boyfriend and fellow tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas said he would not date another player again.
Tennis’s power couple – dubbed ‘Tsitsidosa’ by fans – called time on their romance for a second time back in July last year after being ‘shattered’ by the demands of their professional careers.
Tsitsipas has since moved on and is in a relationship with Kristen Thoms. Thoms is a tennis player turned model who ditched her sporting career after competing at college level.
Tsitsipas, formerly world No 3, was answering questions on social media and was asked whether his preference is to date a tennis player or non-tennis player.
He responded: ‘Non-tennis girlfriend. Trust me. Even if you don’t want to admit there’s competitiveness, there’s always competitiveness.’
Evidently the feeling was mutual with Badosa reacting to her ex-boyfriend’s comments with four laughing emojis on the post.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, who used to go out with fellow player Paula Badosa, insisted he would rather have a non-tennis girlfriend
Tsitsipas’ mother, Julia, previously spoke about why the relationship did not work.
‘Their relationship was complicated from beginning to end,’ Julia told Serbian outlet Telegraf.
‘On the one hand, she distracted him from tennis, and on the other hand, the breakup hit him hard.
‘I was a professional tennis player and I thought that tennis players should not react so emotionally.
‘Their relationship was not ordinary, everyday. They were in a long-distance relationship. Both entered the relationship traumatized by injuries. Paula didn’t play at all when they started dating.
‘But at no time was there a possibility that Stefanos would end his career because of their love.’
The couple initially broke up ‘amicably’ back in May 2024 but within three weeks they were back together and piquing the interest of fans all over again.
However by July last year they ended things again, with a source telling the mass-market Spanish magazine ¡Hola!: ‘The breakup just happened. They both lost in the first round in London [at Wimbledon] and everything has come together for them.
Tsitsipas and Badosa split in July 2024 after a ‘complicated’ relationship which lasted a little over two years
Tsitsipas has revealed that he’s found love again less than a year after splitting from Badosa, with Kristen Thoms (above)
‘[They] were going through a rough patch professionally, with injuries, and that affected their relationship.
‘They’re not well, of course. It’s normal for any couple that breaks up. They had started the year very well, and their dream has been shattered.
‘It’s a healthy breakup and there were no third parties or family influences, as is starting to be said.
‘[They] have struggled to make their relationship work, but ultimately it hasn’t worked out. Ghosts from the past have returned, marked by the injuries they have both suffered.
‘[The split is] between adults who loved each other very much, and it was a mature decision.’
Badosa is setting up her own swimwear brand in a clear nod to thinking outside the court
Badosa and Tsitsipas unfollowed each other on social media and removed posts referring to each other.
And last November, Badosa confirmed the split as she held up a sash with the words ‘Sexy and single’ as she celebrated her 28th birthday with friends in Dubai.
The tennis star shared photos of her with a birthday cake reading ‘older, wiser and still hotter than ever’, along with another sash that stated ’28 and still a 10′.
