Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has had the downturn in his career analysed in depth – by his own mother.
Tsitsipas, 27, was ranked as highly as third in the world and reached the finals of the Australian Open and French Open in 2023 and 2021 respectively but has dipped significantly since and is now 75th in the world.
But the 6ft4 star’s not-so-private life has been just as prominent through his career as his sporting prowess. Tsitsipas dated fellow tennis player Paula Badosa in an on-off tumultuous relationship for two years before they finally split last year.
Badosa, who was once women’s world No 2, has also struggled and appears to be considering retirement at just 28 after a series of injury nightmares.
And Tsitsipas’s outspoken mother, Yulia Salnikova, sees that partnership as being to blame for her son’s struggles on-court.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa split last year – and it seems his mother is delighted
Yulia Salnikova saw the relationship as being to blame for her son’s struggles on-court
‘They were a good couple, but it was a burden for him. He was pushing himself too hard,’ she said.
Tsitsipas and Badosa were very public with their relationship – appearing in magazine photoshoots and even setting up a ‘Tsitsidosa’ joint Instagram account to appease their fans.
‘The constant photos, social media, and all the media attention gradually affected him,’ his mother added. ‘Although he said he liked it, inside it was building up.’
Tsitsipas now has a new girlfriend, former college tennis player Kristen Thoms. Yulia appears to approve much more of her influence.
‘I feel like I’ve known her for 90 years. She’s a very sweet girl, she understands tennis, she played for university, and she’s also built her own career in marketing and representation,’ she said.
Badosa recently left little room for interpretation of her feelings after her ex-boyfriend said he would not date another professional player again.
Tsitsipas was answering questions on social media and was asked whether his preference is to date a tennis player or non-tennis player.
He responded: ‘Non-tennis girlfriend. Trust me. Even if you don’t want to admit there’s competitiveness, there’s always competitiveness.’
Badosa recently launched her own swimwear line and is considering tennis retirement
Evidently the feeling was mutual with Badosa reacting to her ex-boyfriend’s comments with four laughing emojis on the post.
The couple initially broke up ‘amicably’ back in May 2024 but within three weeks they were back together and piquing the interest of fans all over again.
However by July last year they ended things again, with a source telling the mass-market Spanish magazine ¡Hola!: ‘The breakup just happened. They both lost in the first round in London [at Wimbledon] and everything has come together for them.
‘[They] were going through a rough patch professionally, with injuries, and that affected their relationship.
‘They’re not well, of course. It’s normal for any couple that breaks up. They had started the year very well, and their dream has been shattered.
‘It’s a healthy breakup and there were no third parties or family influences, as is starting to be said.
‘[They] have struggled to make their relationship work, but ultimately it hasn’t worked out. Ghosts from the past have returned, marked by the injuries they have both suffered.
‘[The split is] between adults who loved each other very much, and it was a mature decision.’
