Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa’s story began amidst the clay courts of Rome during the 2023 Italian Open, where they first connected. Their connection deepened swiftly, blossoming into a romance soon after. In a playful TikTok revelation, Badosa shared that Tsitsipas was the first to declare “I love you” and initiate their first kiss. While their relationship became public in 2023, Tsitsipas once confessed it was “love at first sight” when he first laid eyes on Badosa at the 2020 Australian Open. Then, in a move that surprised many, Badosa announced their separation via social media in May 2024. Yet, their time apart proved brief, as they were soon seen together again. Could this rekindled romance be heading towards the ultimate commitment?

Madrid shimmered with star power on April 21st as the Laureus Awards brought together the brightest names in sports. The Monday night commenced with Novak Djokovic, the previous year’s World Sportsman of the Year, bestowing the honor upon Swedish pole vault sensation Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis, while another highlight saw tennis icon Rafael Nadal receive the Laureus Sporting Icon Award amidst a resounding standing ovation from the assembled sports luminaries. But there was one particularly radiant couple: tennis stars Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa, that garnered a majority of the spotlight. Why, you ask?

Stepping onto the red carpet at the Cibeles Palace, the duo, affectionately known as ‘Tsitsidosa’ turned heads, their pearly white ensembles a striking symbol of their united presence at the glamorous gala. Badosa dazzled in an elegant gown, while Tsitsipas looked sharp in a stylish suit accented with a black boutonniere. A perfect attire for a wedding ceremony, right?

Well, in an interview, Tsitsipas, when asked about the attire, revealed, “That’s what I thought when I saw our combinations. I said to Paul, if we were ever to get married, that’s probably how I’d like to get married. So, it’s great to get the first taste of how that feels like. Maybe the Laureus Awards is more than just a gala at the end of the day. It’s a statement, and we’ll take it,” while Badosa watched Tsitsipas with an innocent smile all the while.

Paula Badosa even shared a glimpse of their stunning look on her IG handle with the caption, “What a night! Absolutely inspired by @laureussport Awards and all the athletes we could meet there. Special thanks to @pedrodelhierro_official for dressing both of us 🤍.”

Emma Raducanu responded with affectionate heart emojis, “🫶🫶🫶,” while Tsitsipas’s brother, Petros, exclaimed, “OPA 😍.” Paula Badosa’s sister, Jana, added her admiration with “Woww 😍.” Injecting humor, Grigor Dimitrov quipped, “Hansel- he is so hot right now!” and Costeen Hatzi, Nick Kyrgios’ former girlfriend, commented, “Wow stunning!!! 🤍🤍.” However, one comment stood out the most: the former Portuguese tennis player, João Sousa, asked, “Auuux! Pre-wedding?!”

On one side, they’re one of the most celebrated couples in the tennis world, but on the other, they have also faced some strong criticisms in the past. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas reacts to constant criticisms about his relationship with Paula Badosa

According to some, Tsitsipas’ on-court performances have been hugely impacted in a negative way after his relationship with the Spaniard. In April 2024, tennis legend Jimmy Connors shared some advice to the Greek star. “Life is life and there are many other things to do besides playing tennis. But you have to remember that that is your life at that moment and it doesn’t last forever. So you have to try to concentrate on your business. Relationships are important, as is family. You have to adapt to all this. This is not a physical issue but a mental one. I’m sure Tsitsipas will fix all this,” Connors had explained.

Previously, after hearing all the criticism surrounding their relationship, Tsitsipas said, “People who claim that I am no longer focused on tennis, I train more than I ever did in my career.” Talking about Badosa, he mentioned, “I haven’t really felt that type of connection with anyone before.” Now at the Laureus Awards, he yet again refused to buy anything negative about his relationship.

Seeing a journalist highlight all these negative narratives that often pop up surrounding the couple, Tsitsipas said, “I don’t really pay attention to it. I don’t read media. I don’t even follow media, and that’s also one of the reasons I’m out of social media during competitions. I don’t want to read, I don’t want to see, I don’t want to hear anything people have to say.“

He also added, “I’m happy with the person I have in my life. I don’t want this to interfere with my tennis career in a negative way. Obviously, I have the right support by my side in order to allow me to thrive in my tennis career and my professional endeavors.“

Meanwhile, Badosa has previously spoken about how her boyfriend gave her the courage when she was going through “one of the hardest seasons” of her career. Undoubtedly, they are truly head over heels and support each other no matter what.