I Watched My Son Fade”: Tsitsipas’s Mother Lifts the Curtain on a Love That Went Too Far

The tennis world was still struggling to process the sudden collapse of the beloved “Tsitsidosa” romance when an even bigger shock arrived. Yulia Salnikova, Stefanos Tsitsipas’s mother and a former professional tennis player herself, has broken her silence — and her words have hit like a thunderbolt.
“It wasn’t a normal love,” Yulia reportedly said, her voice heavy with emotion. “It consumed him. It destroyed my son.”
For fans, the breakup between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa felt unreal. Just months earlier, the pair had spoken openly about a future together, sharing tender moments on tour and on social media that painted them as tennis’s most genuine power couple. Their chemistry seemed effortless, their smiles convincing. Now, that fairytale has been replaced by uncomfortable questions.
According to Yulia, the relationship blurred crucial boundaries. She hinted that Stefanos became emotionally drained, struggling to balance elite competition with the intensity of a romance lived constantly in the public eye. “I saw him losing focus, losing himself,” she suggested, implying that love, instead of inspiring him, slowly pulled him away from his core.
While she stopped short of placing direct blame on Badosa, her remarks made it clear that the breakup was not simply about “falling out of love.” It was about survival — emotional, mental, and professional.
Fans have reacted with disbelief and heartbreak. “Is this a nightmare?” many asked online. “They were perfect.”
But behind the polished photos and playful videos, a very different story may have been unfolding. If Yulia’s words are anything to go by, this wasn’t just the end of a relationship — it was a painful wake-up call that even the most beautiful love stories can hide silent damage beneath the surface.