Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals one-word reason behind Paula Badosa mixed doubles campaign at French Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed the one reason why he is playing in all three tennis disciplines at the French Open this year: Love.
Ninth seed and 2021 finalist Tsitsipas is shining on the singles court at Roland Garros, reaching round four for the sixth straight year after dispatching Zhizhen Zhang in a dominant straight-sets performance.
It took just an hour and 33 minutes for the former world No 3 to prevail 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 out on Court Suzanne Lenglen, in one of the most impressive displays of the men’s event so far.
He will take to court on Sunday for his fourth-round clash against unseeded Italian Matteo Arnaldi, but that will not be his only appearance on court this weekend.
Tsitsipas is once again playing men’s doubles alongside his younger brother Petros, the two having played together regularly on tour in recent years – with an Olympic spot in their sights.
But he is also playing in the mixed doubles competition, alongside girlfriend Paula Badosa – with ‘Tsitsidosa’ back together after their recent split.
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Tsitsipas and Badosa – who plays against Aryna Sabalenka in the women’s singles on Saturday – were meant to play together at Wimbledon last year, but withdrew amid the Spaniard’s injury struggles.
But both will now look to channel their strong singles form into their joint campaign, with Ena Shibahara and Nathaniel Lammons their opponents.
And, when asked on court by Alex Corretja as to why he was taking on such a busy schedule in Paris, Tsitsipas’ answer was a simple one.
“It’s all because of love,” he said.
“It is when you think about it, on both sides, so…getting to combine love and tennis is quite exceptional, I’ve gotta say.”
From Paris with Love pic.twitter.com/BpR74HiLKy
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) May 31, 2024
It has been a tumultuous few weeks for Tsitsipas and Badosa, who first announced they were a couple last year by launching a joint Instagram page.
Shortly before the start of the Italian Open in Rome, Badosa – who has been as high as No 2 in the WTA Rankings – publicly announced that she and the Greek had called time on their highly-publicised relationship.
But Tsitsipas revealed in his pre-tournament press conference in Paris that they had reunited after just a few weeks apart, and the two have been spotted together regularly over the opening six days of the tournament.
They are scheduled to play together in the fourth match on Court 7 on Saturday, after Badosa’s match against close friend Sabalenka on Court Philippe Chatrier.
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