End of a passionate relationship? "It really hurt me"

In October, media rumors suggested that Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas, arguably the most celebrated couple in tennis, had called it quits. However, they continue to support each other. In a foreign media interview, Badosa conceded that the criticism and doubt concerning her relationship with the Greek was hurtful.

Did one of the hottest tennis romances just come to an end? This question occupied the media a few weeks ago, implying that Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas had split. The couple had officially announced their relationship in June 2023.

"We are a couple, but we are not just that. Rather, we are soulmates. This is the appropriate term. Finding your soulmate is a rarity. If you ask Paula, she will tell you the same," Tsitsipas told "Bild".

Soon afterward, signs emerged that the relationship had ended. All pictures were removed from their combined Instagram account. Both their personal pages were also devoid of shared images. This fueled further conjecture.

Badosa finally spoke up. In a conversation with "El País", she confirmed they were still together. However, the criticism and questioning surrounding their relationship had profoundly hurt her.

"It really hurt me. We both share a love for tennis, and he is also an incredibly dedicated person. We share common goals which we set out to achieve. We exchange a lot of conversation about tennis and support each other," she confessed.

Tsitsipas also clarified his stand on his relationship with Badosa. He expressed his disapproval of people passing judgment on him and his partner.

"A lot of people derive pleasure in causing chaos, and I absolutely abhor this. Meeting Paula gave me a different perspective on life. Earlier, it was only about tennis and nothing else mattered. Now, I've come to realize there are other elements in my life which require equal attention. It's wonderful to have Paula by my side," he concluded, as quoted by tennis365.com.