Breaking Badosa

After a big win in Berlin, Paula Badosa spoke out about struggles to recover from a "toxic" relationship with her ex, Stefanos Tsitsipas.

BERLIN, Germany — Let’s start this story with what could be the ending.

As she stepped off the podium following Wednesday’s most memorable press conference in Berlin, Paula Badosa had a premonition what would be the result of her preceding remarks:

“I’m waiting for the headline now: ‘Paula Badosa Attacks Stefanos Tsitsipas!’”

Just as I started to assure her that it wouldn’t be, Badosa quickly addended her approval of the idea.

“He deserves it, so…”

Tsitsidosa, as their relationship was coined in a portmanteau, was a rare romance between two tennis players who had both been near the top of the rankings. Rarer still, I thought, was how openly Badosa spoke on Wednesday about the struggles caused by the two-year relationship, which she called “toxic.”

Paula Badosa in her press conference on Wednesday in Berlin. (Photo by Jimmie48)

I don’t normally delve into players’ dating lives, but the way Badosa spoke on Wednesday about it so directly affecting her tennis career—and the way in which Aryna Sabalenka chimed in to enthusiastically support her friend, as you’ll read—made me reconsider this for today, at least.

“Honestly, when she finished the whatever-she-called-it, I was that friend that sent her an audio [message], like two minutes, laughing, screaming, saying ‘Yes, girl! You made it!’” —Aryna Sabalenka on Paula Badosa.

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