Paula Badosa has opened up about the role Stefanos Tsitsipas played while she was injured, admitting her boyfriend suffered from trying to be supportive.
Tsitsipas and Badosa officially began dating in June 2023, beginning a high-profile relationship that has attracted much attention from the media because the two have not attempted to be as private as many other couples.
The two briefly split earlier this year but reconciled a few weeks later, despite Tsitsipas' mother being critical of Badosa and being seemingly bitter after not being consulted about the pair getting back together.
It appears the two are now stronger than ever. Tsitsipas and Badosa played mixed doubles together at this year's mixed doubles, although the Greek was criticized for frightening Badosa after smashing his racket on the ground.
The pair recently did an interview with the Spanish celebrity magazine Hola!. One section of the interview featured Tsitsipas recalling how it was love at first sight when he watched Badosa play at the 2020 Australian Open.
Badosa also revealed in their conversation with the magazine that Tsitsipas gave her unconditional support after she sustained a severe injury at Wimbledon a few weeks after they officially started dating, sidelining the Spaniard for months.
"Stefanos was an unconditional support for me in all those months I spent lying on a sofa. He is a very sensitive person and, sometimes, he empathized so much that he ended up suffering too much."
After winning her first title in over two years at the Citi Open in Washington, Badosa mentioned Tsitsipas first because she remembered how her boyfriend was supportive when she needed it.
"There were times when I had to cheer myself up just for him, who was constantly looking for solutions to make me feel better. That's why when I won the title in Washington, he was the first person I called and mentioned because the truth is that he has been very important in my recovery."
Although Tsitsipas was a great source of support, Badosa also thinks she is adept at finding strength after hitting rock bottom because of being a naturally independent person.
"I am a person who when I hit rock bottom, and it is not the first time I have done so, I manage to get a lot of strength out of it. I have always been an independent girl, with a lot of character, with personality and, at that critical moment this year, I decided to make changes in the team that helped me a lot."
Badosa might have needed to draw on some of that resilience when she was accused of racism. The Spaniard and her coach, Pol Toledo, were accused of racism after the coach posted a picture that appeared to show her using chopsticks in an offensive manner toward Asians.
Despite initially apologizing, Badosa subsequently deleted the apology and lashed out at those criticizing her online, calling them bullies and saying the incident should have been over when she said sorry.
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