Stefanos Tsitsipas has faced a challenging year both professionally and personally, with his breakup from fellow tennis star Paula Badosa adding to the difficulties. His mother, Julia Salnikova, recently spoke openly about the impact the relationship had on her son.
Julia Salnikova’s perspective on the breakup
In an interview with Pavel Nitkin of Sports.ru, Salnikova acknowledged the emotional toll the separation took on Tsitsipas. She explained that relationships can sometimes affect men more deeply than expected. “It was certainly an interesting relationship. It wasn’t some ordinary, dull, everyday relationship, because it was long-distance,” she said.
The challenges from the start
Salnikova highlighted that both players entered the relationship while dealing with injuries. “They both entered this relationship injured and suffering from physical pain. When they started dating, Paula couldn’t play at all because of a back injury,” she explained. According to her, the circumstances made the relationship difficult from the beginning. “The relationship was difficult from the start,” she added.
A timeline of Tsitsipas and Badosa’s relationship
The romance began in May 2023 at the Italian Open in Rome, when Tsitsipas messaged Badosa after her victory against Ons Jabeur. By June, they had made their relationship public in an unconventional way, changing their Spotify profile pictures to each other and creating a shared playlist.
Their first breakup came in May 2024, when Badosa announced on Instagram that they had decided to part ways amicably. The separation lasted only a few weeks before they reunited, even entering mixed doubles at the French Open, though injuries prevented them from competing.
Injuries and distance as recurring obstacles
Throughout their time together, injuries and the demands of long-distance travel weighed heavily on the couple. Badosa’s back injury was a constant challenge, while Tsitsipas also faced physical setbacks. These issues, combined with the pressures of professional tennis, made sustaining the relationship increasingly difficult.
The final split in 2025
Their second and final breakup occurred in July 2025, shortly after both suffered disappointing exits at Wimbledon. Badosa lost in the first round to Katie Boulter, while Tsitsipas retired mid-match against Valentin Royer. By November, Badosa confirmed she had moved on, celebrating her 28th birthday in Dubai with photos that included a sash reading “sexy and single.”
Tsitsipas now faces the challenge of regaining focus on his career after a year marked by personal and professional struggles. Salnikova’s comments shed light on the emotional complexities behind the headlines, offering a glimpse into how deeply the relationship affected her son.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2025
Ranked no.34, Tsitsipas played his last match on the 5th of December when he lost to world no.46 Daniel Altmaier 7-6(5) 1-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 in the 2nd round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This year Stefanos has a 22-18 match record. Tsitsipas clinched 1 title in Dubai.
Paula Badosa in 2025
Ranked no.25, the Spaniard played her last match on the 28th of September when she had to retire when playing against world no.19 Karolina Muchova in the 3rd round and the scoreline was 4-2 .
Currently, during this year Badosa owns a compiled 18-13 win-loss record. Paula Badosa’s best accomplishment of this season was reaching the semifinal at the Australian Open.