Paula Badosa has spoken candidly about the end of her relationship with fellow tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas. The couple dominated headlines when they made their relationship public in June 2023, quickly becoming known as “Tsitsidosa.” Although they briefly parted ways in May 2024, the couple reconciled within weeks and remained together until ultimately splitting for good in July 2025.
The aftermath of their relationship has been far from amicable, from Tsitsipas swearing off “tennis girlfriends” and his mother, Julia, describing their relationship as “difficult” to Badosa’s coach firing back. The Spaniard has now opened up about moving on from the challenging split.
Paula Badosa Discusses Feeling ‘Strong Again’ After Stefanos Tsitsipas Split
Badosa has booked her place in the quarterfinals of the Berlin Tennis Open with an impressive performance against No. 5 seed Coco Gauff, securing an emotional 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 comeback win in their second-round clash.
Speaking to the press after her stunning victory, the Spaniard shared an insight into her personal life, revealing how difficult it was to move past a breakup stemming from a “toxic” relationship, referring to her romance with Tsitsipas.
“I’ve been through a lot of breakups in my life, I accept them and I know things are the way they are. But when there are toxic things around, it makes everything much harder than a normal breakup,” Badosa said.
Badosa explained that when a relationship ends on poor terms, its negative effects bleed into all aspects of life, saying, “You can have a great relationship with an ex because they’re normal people and it’s a normal relationship. But when it’s not like that… I don’t need to explain any further. You can see every day that the other person makes everything harder.”
The former world No. 2 also discussed her professional struggles, shedding light on why she chose to take a hiatus after her first-round exit at the Madrid Open before returning to action during the grass-court season.
“After Madrid I had to stop, mentally it was too much for me. I couldn’t find a way to see a light (at the end of the tunnel), but I’ve been doing everything I can. A year ago, I was in the top 10, and seeing where I am now isn’t easy. That’s the professional side,” she said.
Badosa further reflected on the challenging process of moving on from her split with Tsitsipas, disclosing that she is now in a much better place in her personal life.
“On the personal side, the process hasn’t been easy either, trying to clear a lot of things from my life. Finally, it’s been a few months since I’ve been in a good environment, but getting past the toxic things around me wasn’t easy. But it’s something you have to go through as a woman, and I’m feeling strong again,” she added.
The Spaniard even joked about how her comments regarding Tsitsipas would likely be portrayed in the media, quipping that he “deserves” the attack.
“Now I want to see tomorrow’s headlines: ‘Paula attacks Tsitsipas,'” she said. “Well, he deserves it!”
MORE: Stefanos Tsitsipas Celebrates Girlfriend’s Birthday Days After Shading Paula Badosa Romance
Paula Badosa will now turn her focus to her upcoming quarterfinal clash at the WTA 500 event in Berlin. The Spaniard will battle it out against the winner of the match between Linda Nosková and Diane Parry.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, meanwhile, has yet to kick off his grass-court season. He recently shared a glimpse of his scenic getaway to the Cyclades islands with his girlfriend, Kristen Thoms.
