The fallout between Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas continues to generate off-court drama, even a year after the couple ended their high-profile relationship. Following recent comments from Tsitsipas’s mother, Yulia Salnikova, who labeled the Spanish player a “burden” to her son, Badosa’s coach, Pol Toledo, has publicly fired back, shifting the blame toward the Greek star’s insecurities.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’s Ego Took a Hit From Paula Badosa’s Success, Coach Claims
Badosa and Tsitsipas began their highly publicized romance in the spring of 2023. They shared social media accounts and joined magazine shoots, but both suffered notable dips in their performance on court and battled injuries during their time together. The couple officially parted ways in the summer of 2025 following early exits at Wimbledon. After the separation, Badosa addressed the public split directly, remarking, “It was nothing bad that happened, it’s just life.”
Tsitsipas has since moved on, dating former collegiate tennis player turned model Kristen Thoms, but his family still discusses Badosa in the press.
Recently, Salnikova spoke out against the relationship, suggesting that Badosa’s influence directly derailed her son’s career. “They were a good couple, but for him, it became a burden. He was trying too hard,” Salnikova claimed. “The constant photos, social media, and all the media attention gradually started affecting him. Even though he said he liked it, inside it kept building up.”
Badosa chose to remain silent, but these remarks prompted a fierce defense from Badosa’s coach. Speaking to the Spanish outlet El PaÃs, coach Toledo did not hold back. He stated that the Tsitsipas family “talks too much about Paula” and exposed what he believes was the true reason behind the couple’s breakup: Stefanos’ fragile ego.
“He has always had a hard time accepting that Badosa shone brighter than him in the relationship,” Toledo said. “Paula has had to put up with certain things…”
Toledo further suggested that Tsitsipas’ chaotic family contributed to Badosa’s ongoing physical setbacks. “She needs stability in every sense, but when things are difficult in your environment, you run a greater risk of experiencing ups and downs. That took its toll on her physically.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a series of public, high-tension incidents involving his parents, who are also his coaches, Apostolos Tsitsipas and Salnikova, such as an accidental racket strike that bruised his father during the 2020 ATP Cup, mid-match verbal arguments that once led to his father’s brief dismissal at the 2024 Canadian Open. Recently, during his match at the Mutua Madrid Open, he was caught lashing out at his own father, yelling, “You piece of s**t, go to hell.”
Toledo’s comments also point the finger at a controversial confession Tsitsipas previously made about his romantic life: “I prefer my girlfriend not to play tennis, believe me.” He seems to have followed the same mindset in his new relationship with Thoms, who no longer plays competitively.
Meanwhile, Badosa is going through one of the most challenging periods of her career. Battling a prolonged spiral of injuries, the former world No. 2 recently announced she is stepping away from the WTA tour to focus on an urgent physical and mental reset.
“In Madrid, I felt completely drained,” Badosa confessed on the El Camino de Mario podcast. “I had a conversation with my team and I think I need some time to stop… to gather some strength and fight. I’m reaching a point where I’m exhausted. We’ve decided to stop, although we don’t know if it will be for two, three, or four weeks.”
Tsitsipas is also in a slump, with his singles ranking plummeting to world No. 75. He has failed to advance past the quarterfinals at any tour-level tournament, including the Australian Open and the Rome Masters. He is scheduled to play at the Geneva Open on Monday.
