Paula Badosa had an encouraging message for Stefanos Tsitsipas following an early exit at the Australian Open, declaring her boyfriend “a champion.”
On Monday, the 2023 Australian Open runner-up exited the Happy Slam in the first round after world No. 42 Alex Michelsen handed him a 7-5 6-3 2-6 6-4 defeat.
For the Greek – who struggled mightily in the second part of 2024 – it was yet another disappointing loss and absolutely not the start to the 2025 season he needed.
While Tsitsipas didn’t hide that he was disappointed with the defeat, he remained positive that something positive out of the entire situation could still happen.
“Every toss begins with hope, every swing carries purpose, and every fist pump reminds me why I love this journey. Tennis is more than wins or losses – it’s the quiet clarity before the serve, the fight in every rally, and the balance of preparation and execution. These moments – raw, honest, and unfiltered. These are the moments that keep me coming back,” the former world No. 3 wrote on Instagram.
Badosa responds to Tsitsipas’ post
In the comment section, his girlfriend wrote: “Once a champion, always a champion.”
Paula Badosa comment© Instagram
Last year, the Greek’s only strong run came during the clay season, when he won the Monte Carlo Masters – finished as runner-up in Barcelona – and made the French Open quarterfinal.
Apart from that, his results were subpar and far from the ones he targeted.
So far, the 2025 season hasn’t been any better – Tsitsipas started his season by beating Pablo Carreno Busta at the United Cup but then got stunned by Alexander Shevchenko in the same event before Michelsen upset him at the Australian Open.
The 26-year-old isn’t anymore regarded as a contender for the biggest titles and it will be interesting to see if he will be able to bounce back in the upcoming period.
Tennis World USA