Tsitsidosa: A Tennis Power Couple Set to Conquer Mixed Doubles at the US Open
Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas, the dynamic tennis duo known as “Tsitsidosa,” have officially announced their entry into the Grand Slam mixed doubles arena. After triumphing in the inaugural Mixed Madness event, the couple will make their main draw debut at the 2024 US Open.
Badosa, a former world No. 2, expressed her excitement and confidence in their partnership. “I’m the responsible one on the mixed doubles team,” she joked. “I carry us!”
Their journey to the US Open has been marked by both setbacks and triumphs. Last summer, they were scheduled to play mixed doubles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but Badosa’s back injury forced her to withdraw. Now fully recovered, they have proven their dominance as a tennis power couple.
In the Mixed Madness event, Tsitsidosa defeated American teams Coco Gauff-Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz-Amanda Anisimova, claiming a whopping $250,000 prize. Badosa’s highlight of the night was returning Shelton’s blistering serve, which often reaches speeds of 150 miles per hour.
“Every time I see him, I’m like, ‘I returned your serves!'” Badosa exclaimed. “It was so easy to return his serve, so I love it.”
Badosa attributes their success to their shared strength and off-court chemistry. “I think it helps that I’m a strong player who can handle the man,” she explained. “That may be the most important part of the mixed, the fact that I can return the man’s serve.”
“Of course, he’s an amazing tennis player, so that helps so much,” she added of Tsitsipas. “He has an amazing serve and an amazing volley. He makes my life very easy there, you know? I’m like, ‘Ok, you just ace it, and I’m just there!'”
Despite their individual talents, Badosa emphasizes the importance of teamwork and support. “Even though we’re both good players, we can come together and not play good doubles. That could happen, you know? But in our case, we know how to handle the moments, and even when the two of us might be struggling a bit, we help and support each other very well. I think we enjoy it and that’s really important.”
As the mixed doubles event at the US Open approaches, the question remains: can Tsitsidosa capture their first major title together? With their proven chemistry and determination, they are poised to make a significant impact on the Grand Slam stage.
