Why Paula Badosa's boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas was missing in player's box at Australian Open SF against Aryna Sabalenka

Paula Badosa’s boyfriend, fellow tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas, was nowhere to be seen in her player’s box during her 2025 Australian Open semifinals against Aryna Sabalenka. The Greek competed in the tournament but suffered an early exit.

Badosa chased her maiden Grand Slam final at the Melbourne Major this fortnight. She reached her first-ever semifinal at the level with noteworthy victories over Wang Xinyu, Talia Gibson, Marta Kostyuk, Olga Danilovic, and Coco Gauff. The player had a semifinal battle against two-time defending champion and good friend Aryna Sabalenka (Thursday, January 23).

In the initial rounds of her campaign, Paula Badosa enjoyed the support of her boyfriend, Stefanos Tsitsipas. The former World No. 3 was notably present in her players’ box during her match against Marta Kostyuk. Tsitsipas, who was the finalist at the 2023 Australian Open, suffered an early exit at the tournament this time, losing to American Alex Michelsen 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 in the opening round.

Although he extended his stay in Melbourne to support his girlfriend of almost two years, Tsitsipas has returned to his hometown, Athens. The player, who resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco, indicated that he made the journey for some much-needed soul-searching amid his poor run of form.

"Sometimes you need to go back to where it started to remember why you started," he wrote under his latest Instagram post.

The player could be seen practicing with his brother Petros at the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel, Athens.

Badosa backed Tsitsipas’ decision with a loving message.

"Couldn’t agree more with the caption," she wrote.

Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas on Instagram

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What Paula Badosa said about boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas' Australian Open campaign

Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas pictured at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open - Image Source: Getty

Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas made their relationship public during the 2023 French Open. The tennis couple have been vocal in their love and support. While they briefly separated in 2024, they announced their reconciliation a few weeks later.

Badosa, who struggled with a prolonged back injury the past couple of years, has often stated how her partner motivated her to stage a comeback. The Spaniard herself has been by Tsitsipas’ side through his good and bad days on the tennis court.

Following her 6-1, 6-0 win against Talia Gibson at the 2025 Australian Open, the former World No. 2 said:

"He (Stefanos Tsitsipas) always complains about my long matches, so today I am proud of myself. It's incredible to have him by my side, he inspires me a lot, especially such a good player."

"He gives me a lot of advice. Let's give him a round of applause because he's not going through his best moment, but he will come back," she added.