‘Upset’ Stefanos Tsitsipas blames this for RG mixed dubs withdrawal with Paula Badosa
Tsitsipas addresses him and Badosa withdrawing from their French Open first-round mixed doubles match on Monday.
Stefanos Tsitsipas admitted he was “upset” over withdrawing from the French Open mixed doubles with Paula Badosa as the Greek tennis star said the Parisian weather was to “blame” for him and his girlfriend delaying their official mixed doubles debut.
When Tsitsipas arrived in Paris, it was revealed that he was planning to play in all three competitions – the singles, men’s doubles with his brother Petros Tsitsipas, and also mixed doubles with his girlfriend Badosa. ‘
But due to rainy weather in Paris and several delays across the opening week at Roland Garros, Tsitsipas and Badosa’s opening mixed doubles was pushed back to Monday. And on Monday, Tsitsipas and Badosa withdrew from the mixed doubles event but the Greek still hit the court that day as he and his brother Petros claimed a 4-6 7-5 6-3 win over Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek.
Following a doubles win with his brother, Tsitsipas confirmed that having a singles quarterfinal match on Tuesday versus Carlos Alcaraz played a part in him withdrawing from the mixed doubles event. Also, the 25-year-old Greek revealed it was Badosa who said she would not have problems with withdrawing from the mixed doubles event if that could help him.
“I’m still upset about it. I have to blame the weather in Paris. It was a disaster. I didn’t expect that I would have to play two doubles in one day, especially a day before a big match like the singles quarterfinals. It’s too much for anyone and I think it was a wise decision to retire from one of the boards,” Tsitsipas said.
“I’m glad Paula understood and was the first to suggest it a few days ago but I was convinced I could handle it and be okay.”
Tsitsipas: Me and Badosa will eventually get a chance to play mixed doubles together
Tsitsipas and Badosa, who first started dating around last year’s French Open, played mixed doubles at an exhibition event during the offseason. In March, Tsitsipas and Badosa played mixed doubles in another exhibition event – they finished as runners-up at the Eisenhower Cup in March.
But while Tsitsipas and Badosa have played mixed doubles together, their appearances have only come at the exhibition level and not on the main level. However, Tsitsipas remains hopeful that will soon change and that he and his girlfriend will soon debut as a mixed doubles duo in one of the next Grand Slam tournaments.
“It was difficult. You want to play with someone who you felt had worked before and there’s something good. It hurts a little but in the end you don’t make a career out of the gross. So, we shouldn’t be too sad because we will have the opportunity in the coming years to play countless Slams,” Tsitsipas added.
“We shouldn’t be too sad, because we will have the opportunity in the coming years to play in countless slams.”
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