Paula Badosa admits she is ‘hurt’ and lashes out at critics of her relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas

Paula Badosa has admitted she has been hurt by the stinking criticism around her relationship with fellow tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Spanish star Badosa and her boyfriend Tsitsipas has been the most talked about couple in tennis in 2023, yet their relationship has been attracting negative headlines in recent months.

Tsitispas has retained his place in the top ten of the ATP rankings despite a slide in fortunes, as he has struggled to challenge the top players in the game.

Some critics have suggested Tsitsipas has lost his focus as his relationship with his partner has flourished, but Badosa has conceded that damning verdict has caused her pain.

“That has hurt me a lot because with the whole issue of the injury, I have actually been able to dedicate myself quite a bit to helping him,” she is quoted by El Pais.

“We both love tennis and he is also a super-working person, we are very similar in the goals we set for ourselves.

“We talk a lot about tennis and we help each other a lot. As you can see, I have gone to the court to support him or to the gym to accompany him, always respecting the times and his people, his team.

“He has also supported me a lot with the injury, so when we read those things it impacts us, sometimes people are not able to understand how that can affect you, or affect a relationship.

“I can understand that we are public figures and that we are exposed, but in the end, we are two 25-year-olds and all this is delicate, because it is an innocent relationship.

“For people to go around saying things is quite serious, because they are destroying the career of someone who has spent his entire life dedicating himself to what he does. I don’t think that giving an opinion this way is very humane.”

READ MORE: Paula Badosa lashes out at critics of her relationship with Stefanos Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas has offered up similar sentiments when asked about his relationship with Badosa, but these comments are a clear attempt to end the speculation that their union is a damning impact or either of their careers.

“A lot of people have fun destroying everything and I don’t like that at all. My meeting with Paula gave me another vision of life in general,” said Tsitsipas.

“Before, it was always tennis, tennis, tennis, that was all that mattered, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“During that part of my young career, I didn’t spend enough time with my family. Maybe for some these connections aren’t so important, but for me they are crucial.

“These are elements of my life that also require time. Not really energy, because they’re just part of me. So to have Paula by my side now is great. I’m going through the best time of my life.

“People who claim that I am no longer focused on tennis, I train more than I ever did in my career.

“A good balance off the court is crucial to achieving success on it and Tsitsipas, with the influence of his father often highlighted as a negative by his critics.

“He has made some changes to his coaching team in recent months and now believes he is ready to find his best form in 2024, with his father now back on his coaching team,

“I have the right people around me, I have no doubts about that,” he told reporters while competing at the European Open in Antwerp.

“It takes years to mature as a man, or as a dominant athlete and I give myself time for that. I really want to make my dream come true one day.

“I dream that Paula and I can make it together and be No 1. I have nothing to prove to anyone.”