Split Decision: Tsitsipas’ Mom on Root of Her Son’s Splits with Badosa and Ivanisevic
By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, December 5, 2025
Photo credit: Paula Badosa Instagram
Physical and emotional wounds traumatized Stefanos Tsitsipas contributing to his downward ranking spiral, his mother said in a new interview.
Julia Salnikova, Tstisipas’ mom and a former WTA pro, gave an extensive interview to Pavel Nitkin of Russian website Sports.ru.
In the Q&A, Salnikova, who represented the Soviet Union and Greece during her playing days and later graduated from Moscow State University with a journalism degree, addressed the 2025 dissolution of Stefanos Tsitsipas’ relationships with ex-girlfriend Paula Badosa and ex-coach Goran Ivanisevic.
The 27-year-old Tsitsipas started the 2025 season ranked No. 11, but has fallen to No. 34 in the rankings after battling a chronic back injury that saw the former French Open and Australian Open finalist fail to surpass the second round at all four Grand Slams this season.
Tsitsipas’ relationship with Badosa, his mother shares, was “complicated” and born from trauma—both players were suffering pain and injury when the relationship began.
“Of course, it was an interesting relationship. It wasn’t some ordinary, lackluster, everyday relationship—because it took place at a distance,” Salnikova told Sports.ru.
“And they both entered this relationship being traumatized—and suffering from physical pain. When they started dating, Paula did not play at all due to a back injury. The relationship was initially complicated.”
Salnikova shot down published reports that at one point the couple considered a joint retirement from tennis calling that “completely fictitious.” Tsitispas’ mother said her son did not consider retirement either while he was dating Badosa or after their break-up.
“Probably, Paula had plans. Perhaps these plans included the end of their careers—but not when they were together,” Salnikova said. “I know for sure that she continued to train.
“Another thing is that, perhaps, she had a reserve parachute and she understood that with this relationship she had a choice. But there was no question of ending his tennis career.”
In late July, Tsitsipas and Coach Goran Ivanisevic split after working together for just two tournaments.
Ivanisevic, who edged Patrick Rafter in the classic “People’s Monday” Wimbledon final, coached Marin Cilic to the US Open championship and guided Grand Slam king Novak Djokovic to 12 Grand Slam titles. Prior to their parting, Ivanisevic questioned Tsitsipas’ commitment publicly.
“He has to resolve his back issue. I was shocked,” Ivanisevic said. “I’ve never seen such an underprepared player in my life.”
Tsitsipas’ mother said the reason her son’s relationship with Coach Goran Ivanisevic failed is very simple.
Ivanisevic, she claimed, remains completely devoted to his former player Novak Djokovic therefore the former Wimbledon winner was “not going to build” a working relationship with her son. Salnikova also said it was her idea to hire Ivanisevic in the first place.
“Goran Ivanisevic’s story as a coach begins and ends with a player named Novak Djokovic. He completely dissolved in it. I saw it. It shocked me,” Salnikova said. “He treated Djokovic as a dear person who needed comprehensive help. Ivanisevic was ready for any feats for the sake of Djokovic, he was ready to fulfill any whims. And I was [fooled].
“It turned out that it was an illusion. Observing this relationship, I naively decided that it could be the same with the next player. But such love happens once in a lifetime, a person cannot repeat it. You couldn’t buy into it.”
Tsitispas cut his season short after playing in Greece’s Davis Cup tie vs. Brazil last September due to his lingering back injury.
The former world No. 3 has been resting in recent months and plans to start on-court training this month. The good news is Tsitsipas has not been suffering recent back pain in his daily life.
His mother said her son was treated by specialist Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt in Munich and did not require surgery for inflammation in the cartilage sheath in his back. Salnikova said her son’s back issues were caused by his tendency to fall to the left during his service motion. The family hopes the recent treatment will enable him to play without pain or at least diminished pain, but his mom conceded they won’t really know until Tsitsipas resumes tennis training this month.
“The problem was solved without surgery. Stepan was very pleased with this—by that time he was already so tired that he was even ready for an operation,” Salnikova told Sports.ru. “At the moment, he does not have active physical activity. He does certain [training], which is aimed at maintaining a normal state.
“Only in early December, when the preparation for the next season and serious workloads begin, we will understand whether he has really solved the problem with the injury.
“Now he does not experience discomfort. This is already pleasing, because before that, even in ordinary life, he had discomfort because of his back.”
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