Why tennis’s power couple split – and how it links back to Maria Sharapova: Paula Badosa opens up on her break-up from Stefanos Tsitsipas after they shut down their joint Instagram page
Paula Badosa has spoken for the first time since her split with Stefanos Tsitsipas Both players are currently in action at the Italian Open in Rome this week The Spaniard has revealed more details behind their break-up at the tournament
Paula Badosa has compared her break-up with Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas to the another high-profile tennis couple’s split as she speaks publicly on their decision to end their relationship for the first time.
On Monday, former world No 2, Badosa, 26, announced that she and Tsitsipas, 25, would be amicably ending their romantic relationship, after nearly a year together.
The pair had grown to becoming one of the sport’s most beloved couples, with the duo being dubbed ‘Tsitsidosa’, creating a joint-Instagram account that boasted over 87,000 followers.
announcement that they would be parting ways, the Instagram account had been removed – yet pictures of the pair remain on their individual social media acocunts. The couple have fevently supported eachother online through their activities both on and off the court, growing to becoming one of tennis’ biggest power couples.
In an announcement posted on social media, Badosa said: ‘We have shared a journey filled with love and learning, and it is as friends with immense mutual respect that we now choose to move forward on our own paths.’
‘As we transition into this new chapter of our lives, we continue to wish each other nothing but the best in all our endeavors.’
ecently, Badosa has struggled with some serious injuries that have thrown the future of her professional career into some doubt. The Spaniard, who has won three titles on the WTA Tour, was last year forced to curtail her season early, after she had suffered a stress fracture in her back.
Badosa has subsequently returned from injury this season, and is currently in action at the Italian Open. On Tuesday, she beat Mirra Andreeva 6-2 6-3, before advancing to the last 64 of the competition after coming from behind to beat Emma Navarro over three sets.
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Tennis power couple Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa announce split in statement confirming they ‘amicably parted ways’ as joint Instagram account with 87,000 followers is taken down just minutes later
After the victory against Andreeva, she spoke to reporters at the tournament in Rome, comparing her and Tsitsipas’ breakup to that of iconic tennis couple Maria Sharapova and Grigor Dimitrov.
‘Emotionally, it hasn’t been easy these last few days, but I’m a strong person, so I’m trying to deal with everything the best I can,’ Badosa, who currently sits at No. 126 in the WTA singles rankings, said following the victory against Andreeva, per AS.
‘I’m very proud of myself and how I’m doing,’ she added. ‘This reminds me a lot of the story of Maria [Sharapova] and Grigor [Dimitrov], where you meet the right person, but maybe at the wrong time. It’s a bit like that.
‘When we were great, the relationship was great. Other times we have our own careers and our own things, and sometimes it is better to separate,’ she said.
Sharapova and Dimitrov were together for nearly two years before their much-documented split in 2015 during the Wimbledon Championships. Considering their stature within the game, the pair’s relationship caught the affection of many tennis fans around the world.
