The Australian Open has brought tennis’ favorite couple, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa, to Melbourne, but their paths in the tournament have taken very different directions. While Badosa stormed into the third round, Tsitsipas faced a stunning first-round defeat at the hands of 19-year-old Alex Michelsen. Even though his singles campaign came to an early end, the Greek star chose to stay back and support his girlfriend from the sidelines. And the Spaniard paid it back in a heartwarming fashion!

Badosa’s latest match against home favorite Talia Gibson was nothing short of a masterclass. The Spaniard delivered a stunning 6-1, 6-0 victory in just 48 minutes, leaving no room for doubt about her form. But what motivated her to wrap things up so quickly? Her boyfriend, of course.

During her on-court interview, Badosa quipped, “He always complains that I do very long matches, so today I was really proud of myself as he didn’t have to stay much here.”

It’s clear that Badosa treasures having Tsitsipas by her side during this tournament. She later shared, “It’s amazing to have him by my side. It’s very inspiring, especially a player that is so good at what he does and he gave me so many advice, support and visa versa. So it’s great to have him by my side.” But Badosa didn’t stop there.

In a heartwarming move, she addressed the crowd and made a special request. “Guys, I want a big round of applause for him. He’s not having the best moment, but he will come back,” she said, rallying support for her boyfriend after his tough loss. Alex’s win over No. 12 Tsitsipas was the former’s first against a player ranked in the top 20 at a Grand Slam.

The Australian Open holds a special place in their story. It was here that Tsitsipas first noticed Badosa back in 2020, describing it as “love at first sight” to Spanish magazine Hola.

However, their romantic journey began much later during the 2023 Italian Open, where a simple congratulatory message from Tsitsipas sparked their connection. By May 2024, the pressures of professional tennis led to a brief separation, but the couple reconciled quickly.

Tsitsipas has since described Badosa as his “person,” and their bond continues to inspire fans. Whereas, the Spaniard had previously showed her support to her boyfriend via social media.

Paula Badosa shows love to ‘champion’ boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas

For Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Australian Open has always been a special battleground. It’s the Slam where he’s made three semifinal appearances and even reached the final in 2023, falling short to Novak Djokovic. Then-14th seed’s 2019 upset of Roger Federer in the fourth round remains one of the highlights of his career. However, this year’s first-round exit was a tough blow.

Taking to Instagram, the Greek tennis player reflected on his emotions after the loss. “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.”

Badosa, ever the supportive partner, commented on his post, “Once a champion, always a champion.”

With Tsitsipas now playing the role of cheerleader, all eyes are on Badosa as she aims to surpass her best result at the Australian Open—a fourth-round appearance in 2022. She will next face 17th seed Marta Kostyuk on Friday. With her boyfriend Tsitsipas by her side, can she keep up her stellar form and make an even deeper run this time?