Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas set to form mixed doubles dream team for the first time
It is the tennis romance that has been one of the stories of the year in the sport and now Paula Baboda and Stefanos Tsitsipas will finally take to the court to play doubles together.
The couple have attracted a big following on social media platforms as their romance has developed in recent months, with the Spanish and Greek star coming close to playing mixed doubles together at Wimbledon last summer.
Badosa’s back injury denied fans a chance to see the couple in action together, but the moment will finally arrive when they team up in the World Tennis League tournament in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
They are part of Team Kites and will play a powerful line-up that also includes world No 2 Aryna Sabalenka and Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov.
After missing a chunk of the 2023 season due to injury, Badosa will be keen to hit the ground running in Abu Dhabi, as she prepares to make a full-time return to the WTA Tour in the new year.
“With injuries this long there are always cracks, but I’m managing the situation the best I can,” Badosa told fans.
“I always try to see the positive side of things. There have been moments in my life that haven’t been like that, and there are days that are worse than others, but I know that this makes me stronger and gives me the experience to learn to handle it better each time.
“I think we have to go through all kinds of experiences in life to then know what we want, what we like and what we don’t.
“I’m in a moment where I try to focus on the good things I have, and above all we all live in the moment because today we won’t live it anymore, so let’s enjoy it.”
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She also went on to back Tsitsispas to shine as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing second half of the 2023 season.
Tsitsipas currently sits at No 6 in the ATP Rankings, having reached a career-high spot of world No 3 for the first time in August 2021.
“Before I even met him I loved how he played, his charisma on court. He’s a fighter, he has variety in his game,” she added.
“He is a potential No 1, easily. He is one of the best players in the world, but I think he hasn’t reached his limit yet.
“He has so much inside him and for sure we will see much more in the future. That’s why I really want to support him, because I think there are no limits to his potential.”
Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek and Daniil Medvedev are among the star names set to feature at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi, with the tournament will seeing 16 of the world’s best men’s and women’s players competing at Yas Island’s Etihad Arena this week.
World No 3 Daniil Medvedev is taking part in a competition that welcomed Novak Djokovic last year, but the world No 1 cannot compete this time as he is preparing to play an exhibition match against Carlos Alcaraz in Saudi Arabia next week.
