“Through my advice to her, I also learned things about myself in terms of tennis and how I see the court and how I approach my own game. It pushes me on,” Stefanos Tsitsipas once said, reflecting on the influence of his girlfriend Paula Badosa on his game. Their bond, both personal and professional, has been a steady force, which has seemingly helped Stefanos find his rhythm on the court this season. But does the Spaniard happen to be Tsitsipas’ biggest fan? Well, no. In a surprising development, the Greek star has disclosed that his most ardent admirer is not Paula Badosa, but her father, Josep Badosa.
Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas have shared nearly two years of a deeply supportive relationship, both on and off the court. The two have often been spotted cheering each other on during matches. Remember the 2025 AO when Badosa, frustrated by swirling winds that threw off her rhythm, gestured animatedly toward her box after falling 5-0 in the second set of her third-round match against Marta Kostyuk? Stefanos responded to him gently, saying “Calm, calm,” in a bid to ease her nerves from afar.
Their dynamic is one of mutual encouragement, even through setbacks. When Badosa was forced to pull out of Indian Wells due to a recurring back injury, she shared a vulnerable post: “One day I’ll be smiling on a court again 🤞.” The 26-year-old ATP ace, by her side, spoke candidly about the emotional toll: “It does create a difficult time for not just Paula but me, as well, having to be there and keep pushing her to kind of get well and jump back on the court.”
Now, in a lighthearted twist that’s charmed fans everywhere, Tsitsipas has revealed that Paula’s father, Josep, is a bigger admirer of his game than Paula herself. The official IG account of the ATP Tour recently dropped a fun, light-hearted video asking players one simple question: “Who’s your biggest supporter?” The likes of Casper Ruud, Andrey Rublev, and Alex de Minaur offered thoughtful shutouts to their inner circles. But it was Stefanos Tsitsipas who stole the show with his cheeky and unexpected response: “Josep Badosa, Paula’s father. He keeps wearing Team Tsitsipas [on his shirt] just everywhere he goes! There’s this one t-shirt that I gave him, and he just wears it everywhere.”
While Stefanos Tsitsipas’s father, Apostolos, has long been a guiding force in his career, coaching him from the sidelines and living every point with him, it’s Paula Badosa’s father, Josep, who’s now emerged as the Greek ace’s most passionate supporter.
Josep must have plenty to cheer about then. Stefanos clinched his first ATP 500 title in Dubai earlier this year, while Paula herself has been mounting a strong comeback after a tough battle with chronic back pain. She even made it to the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year.
Paula’s momentum was, however, recently halted again by injury, as she pulled out of the first round of Sunshine Double. And, now Tsitsipas seems to have gone the same way. The World No. 18 was compelled to withdraw from his QF match at the Barcelona Open mere minutes after its commencement, leaving spectators astonished.
Stefanos Tsitsipas stunned fans at the Barcelona Open when he retired just minutes into his QF clash with Arthur Fils. The Greek star trailed 2-0 in the first set before abruptly calling time on the match, leaving many questioning what went wrong so early in play.
Just six minutes in, Tsitsipas requested a medical timeout, sparking concern. Though he briefly returned to the court, it quickly became clear he wasn’t fit to continue. Within moments, the 26-year-old signaled his retirement, bringing an unexpected and premature end to the highly anticipated matchup.
Arthur Fils, who advanced to the SF via walkover, expressed a mix of relief and frustration. “We played six minutes and will now stop for six minutes,” said Fils.
While pleased to progress, the Frenchman admitted the anticlimactic ending wasn’t how he envisioned earning his spot in the final four. “I think it’s the back. I’m not very sure, to be honest. I was ready to battle for a few hours because he’s a champion. Every time we play we have tough matches. My wish is he’s going to be ready for the next weeks and for French Open. I wish him the best. I don’t know what he had, but I wish him the best,” he added.
Despite his Barcelona setback, Tsitsipas aims to bounce back strong as he sets his sights on the upcoming Madrid Open challenge. It remains to be seen, however, if he will be fit to compete.