The mother of tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has spoken openly about the profound impact her son's high-profile breakup with fellow player Paula Badosa had on his career, linking it directly to his struggles on the court.
A Challenging Relationship From The Start
In a revealing interview, Julia Salnikova, a former player herself, described the union between her son and the Spanish star as an "interesting relationship" that was fraught with difficulty from the very beginning. She confirmed that the pair's romance was forged during a period when both athletes were battling serious injuries, creating an unstable foundation.
Salnikova pointed out that Paula Badosa was completely sidelined with a back injury when they first began dating. Furthermore, the relentless travel schedules inherent to their professions made sustaining a normal connection nearly impossible. "It was impossible for them to have an ordinary, dull, everyday relationship," she noted, highlighting the continuous strain the long-distance dynamic placed on them.
The Emotional Toll and Professional Fallout
The split, which became permanent in June 2025 after a brief three-week reconciliation, took a significant emotional toll on Tsitsipas. His mother admitted she had underestimated how sensitive men could be to such personal upheaval, expecting a male professional athlete to be more resilient. "I found Tsitsipas was deeply affected," she reflected.
This personal turmoil coincided with a stark professional decline. The 2025 season saw Tsitsipas grapple with poor form and his own back injury, culminating in him finishing the year outside the ATP Top 30 for the first time since 2018. Salnikova was unequivocal, stating that dealing with the separation "wasn't easy" for him and contributed to his professional struggles.
Looking Back on 'Tsitsidosa'
The couple, whose relationship was dubbed 'Tsitsidosa' by fans, first went public during the 2023 French Open. Their partnership, however, was shadowed by persistent physical challenges. Badosa's career was also derailed in 2025 by her ongoing back issue, which pre-dated the relationship, and she failed to win any titles that year.
Salnikova's candid remarks provide a rare glimpse into the personal sacrifices and emotional costs behind the scenes of professional tennis, showing how life off the court can dramatically influence performance on it.
