‘Tsitsidosa’ ARE back together: Stefanos Tsitsipas confirms he has rekindled his romance with Paula Badosa, less than a week after they held hands
He explained how he was disappointed by having to do so, but acknowledged his on and off-court partner understood.
‘I’m still bummed out about it,’ said Tsitsipas when asked by Mail Sport about his reasons for pulling out. ‘I have to blame the weather in Paris because it has been an absolute disaster in terms of organisation.
‘I really didn’t expect that I would have to play two doubles in a single day, especially the day before a big match like the quarter-final that I get to play tomorrow. It’s a little bit too much for anyone and taking the decision to pull out of one of the draws was a good decision.
‘I’m happy that Paula understood, in fact she was the first person to suggest it a few days ago but I was still convinced that I can manage it and be OK to play in mixed doubles.
‘It was difficult but at the end of the day it’s not a career you make in mixed doubles, it’s not something you pursue on a weekly basis. So I don’t think we should be too sad about it because in years to come were going to have the opportunity to do that again and to play countless times in big slams like this by each other’s side.
Not everyone appeared happy about it, though, with the Greek’s mother, Julia Apostoli, recently chiming in to give her view.
Her words suggested she wasn’t completely on board with the reunion, as she appeared to criticise Badosa, 26.
Not everyone appeared happy about it, though, with the Greek’s mother, Julia Apostoli, recently chiming in to give her view.
Her words suggested she wasn’t completely on board with the reunion, as she appeared to criticise Badosa, 26.
‘A girl that is not a super confident person,’ she said of her son’s partner.’She needs big support, to learn more things, experience life.
‘The choice has been made. Nobody asked my opinion.’
The pair had grown to becoming one of the sport’s most beloved couples, with the duo being dubbed ‘Tsitsidosa’, creating a joint-Instagram account that boasted over 87,000 followers.
They had been together for just over a year at the time of their split, Basoda had compared the break-up to that of another former tennis couple during her run at last month’s Italian Open.
After the victory against Mirra Andreeva in the first round, she spoke to reporters at the tournament in Rome, saying: ‘Emotionally, it hasn’t been easy these last few days, but I’m a strong person, so I’m trying to deal with everything the best I can.
‘I’m very proud of myself and how I’m doing. This reminds me a lot of the story of Maria [Sharapova] and Grigor [Dimitrov], where you meet the right person but maybe at the wrong time. It’s a bit like that.
‘When we were great, the relationship was great. Other times we have our own careers, our own things, and sometimes it is better to separate.’
At the Italian Open last year, Apostoli was seen leaving Tsitsipas’ box in his semi-final defeat to Daniil Medvedev, with the two appearing to clash and commentators suggesting he had asked his mother to leave the stadium.
They soon made up, however, and the pair sat down for Tsitsipas to interview Apostoli for The Tennis Channel on Mother’s Day.
‘I’m very proud of myself and how I’m doing. This reminds me a lot of the story of Maria [Sharapova] and Grigor [Dimitrov], where you meet the right person but maybe at the wrong time. It’s a bit like that.
‘When we were great, the relationship was great. Other times we have our own careers, our own things, and sometimes it is better to separate.’
At the Italian Open last year, Apostoli was seen leaving Tsitsipas’ box in his semi-final defeat to Daniil Medvedev, with the two appearing to clash and commentators suggesting he had asked his mother to leave the stadium.
They soon made up, however, and the pair sat down for Tsitsipas to interview Apostoli for The Tennis Channel on Mother’s Day.
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