"Better if we focus on our tennis" - Stefanos Tsitsipas discloses his and girlfriend Paula Badosa's "agreement" about supporting each other from afar
Stefanos Tsitsipas recently opened up about his past experiences of supporting girlfriend Paula Badosa from the stands. He explained how "stress" played a role in the couple's decision to avoid each other’s matches.
Tsitsipas recently competed at the ATP 250 event in Gstaad. He reached the semifinals, where he was knocked out by eventual champion Matteo Berrettini. Before that, the Greek contested the Wimbledon Championships, losing in the second round in singles and the first round in men's doubles.
Despite the setbacks, Stefanos Tsitsipas was in good spirits when his girlfriend, Paula Badosa, reached the fourth round of the tournament. The couple shared an endearing moment off the court, lovingly embracing each other following her win. The former World No. 3, however, did not attend the match in person.
About his absence at Badosa’s matches of late, Tsitsipas told the Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten:
"Sometimes when she's playing, I have an off day and need to train and just get back into my routine."
The Greek also recalled being mobbed by fans during Badosa’s early rounds on outside courts.
"It can sometimes be difficult and drain my energy when I'm watching her game on an outdoor court with hundreds of fans asking for autographs," he said.
Besides the unruly fans and his routine being disrupted, Stefanos Tsitsipas also indicated that he is an anxious watcher and thus prefers avoiding the matches altogether. He revealed that he eventually reached an agreement with Paula Badosa in that regard.
"I'm also the type of guy who gets stressed out watching her play tennis," Tsitsipas said.
"This is one of the agreements I made with Paula. If she wants to watch, she always can. But it's better if we focus on our tennis and our training," he added.
Stefanos Tsitsipas to resume his campaign at Paris Olympics, Paula Badosa to compete in the US
Stefanos Tsitsipas is set to make his second Olympics appearance next week at the upcoming event in Paris (July 27- August 4).
The Greek previously competed at the Tokyo Olympics, reaching as far as the third round in singles and the second round in mixed doubles, partnering Maria Sakkari. This time at Roland-Garros, he is aiming for medals in all three categories – singles, men’s doubles, and mixed doubles. In men’s doubles, Tsitsipas will team up with his brother Petros.
Paula Badosa, meanwhile, has chosen to skip the Paris Olympics. The Spaniard will be in action at the WTA 500 Citi Open in Washington, D.C., between July 29 and August 4. At the event, she's chasing her first title in over two years and her fourth overall.