Paula Badosa says her break-up with fellow tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas affected her performance on the court and has branded the Greek as ‘toxic.’
The former world No.2 blasted her former partner after producing a shock three-set win over Coco Gauff in the second round of the Berlin Open. Recording her first win over a top 10 player on the Tour since the same tournament last year. It is the 16th win over such opposition in her career.
Shortly after the victory, focus on Badosa’s triumph switched to her post-match comments about Tsitsipas, with whom she had been in a long-time relationship with. Speaking to reporters in Berlin, the Spaniard said their break-up was harder due to ‘toxic things’ in a clear jibe at Tsitsipas.
“I’ve been through a lot of breakups in my life, I accept them and I know things are the way they are. But when there are toxic things around, it makes everything much harder than a normal breakup,” Badosa was quoted as saying.
“You can have a great relationship with an ex because they’re normal people and it’s a normal relationship. But when it’s not like that… I don’t need to explain any further. You can see every day that the other person makes everything harder.”
Badosa revealed that she had to pause her tennis career earlier this year and pondered retirement following her first round loss at the Madrid Open. The 28-year-old has been hampered by injury setbacks in recent years, with the most serious being her back. She has been dealing with a back issue since 2023 that was caused by a stress fracture. More recently, last year, she tore the labrum in her right hip. On top of this, she has also had problems with her psoas muscle in the past.
Despite the struggles, Badosa has vowed to keep going. Berlin is the first tournament in 2026 where she has reached the quarter-final stage.
“Finally, it’s been a few months since I’ve been in a good environment, but getting past the toxic things around me wasn’t easy. But it’s something you have to go through as a woman, and I’m feeling strong again,” she commented, once again referring to her break-up with Tsitsipas.
Badosa knows her comments on Tsitsipas will generate media interest but is undeterred by this prospect.
“Now I want to see tomorrow’s headlines: ‘Paula attacks Tsitsipas’,” she joked in the press room before adding. “Well, he deserves it!”
Badosa will play either Linda Noskova or Diane Parry in the next round.
