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Stefanos Tsitsipas - Australian Open 2024 and Paula Badosa - Australian Open 2022
ATP Tennis Players, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tennis News, WTA Tennis Players

Stefanos Tsitsipas ‘trying to find a solution’ with girlfriend Paula Badosa


Stefanos Tsitsipas has spoken about how himself and girlfriend Paula Badosa are trying to work together, with both players struggling for form and fitness in recent months.

Tsitsipas is still currently in the tournament at Indian Wells, but former champion Badosa was forced to withdraw due to ongoing injury struggles.

The pair had actually competed together in the ‘Tie Break Tens’ mixed doubles exhibition tournament last week, making it all the way to the final before losing to Ben Shelton and Emma Navarro.

However, it seems that Badosa is still not ready to return to singles action after playing only nine matches in as many months.

And Tsitsipas has spoken about how he is trying to help the former world No.2 through this tricky period, “It does create a difficult time for not just Paula but me, as well, having to be there and keep pushing her to kind of get well and jump back on the court.

“She’s kind of been in and out. The most frustrating part about all of this is that she did play a few matches, and then she didn’t feel that well again, so it has been a tricky time for both of us.”

The Greek continued, “On my end, I’m trying to find the right words and the right things to say. Obviously when it started in the beginning, you have a lot of faith in it and you’re, like, ‘Okay, you just need to stay committed in the process of healing and getting better.’ But after a while, there aren’t many things you can say, because you are confused yourself with what’s happening with the body.

“I’m just there as much as I can to keep making her feel good that at least we are together and we’re trying to find a solution together. I do feel like time will show, and soon I’m pretty sure she will be fully healed and be ready to go full again.”

It has not just been Badosa who has been struggling for form, with Tsitsipas also falling outside the world’s top 10 for the first time since 2019.

However, Tsitsipas has suggested that the rankings are not always reflective of a player’s real level, “It’s part of the whole experience being outside of the top 10. We have seen players that were in the top 10 and dropped out a little bit. Some of them much further.

“It can be tricky for those that are high-ranked because some of the players do have that big tennis that they have, of course, once produced which kept them in the top five and they had big results
I’ve had those actually in the past against players that do not deserve to be outside the top 20 or 30 and are way better than that in terms of tennis and experience.”

The 25-year-old added, “These can be tricky matches, and I feel like being some sort of contender for that title, let’s say, it does perhaps add a bit more pressure to the other guys, because of course I have proved myself over the last few years that I can be there. It’s just that it hasn’t worked out recently, and I’m not in the best sort of tennis shape that I’ve been in terms of the last months.”

Tsitsipas will look to continue his bid to break back inside the top 10, as he plays Jiri Lehecka in the round of 16 at Indian Wells later today.

Inside the baseline…

It is an interesting perspective from Stefanos Tsitsipas, particularly on how he sees the ATP rankings after falling to his lowest rank in five years. His girlfriend Paula Badosa has had an awful past year or so with injury, especially considering the Spaniard had just reached the peak of her career. Hopefully she can fully heal and return to form, with Badosa still currently entered into the Miami Open next week.

READ NEXT: Novak Djokovic claims he ‘was really bad’ in shock Indian Wells exit

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Matthew Johns, Tennishead Writer, is a professional tennis journalist with a specialist degree in Sports Journalism. He's a keen tennis player having represented his local club and University plus he's also a qualified tennis coach. Matthew has a deep knowledge of tennis especially the ATP Tour and thrives on breaking big tennis news stories for Tennishead.