Stefanos Tsitsipas’ mom reveals Greek was bullied, makes two other shock revelations

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ mother, Julia Apostoli, made some significant revelations during her recent appearance on the Greek talk show *To Proino*. She opened up about her son’s struggles with bullying during his school years, the family tensions that led to his split with his father as a coach, and the recent reunion with his girlfriend, Paula Badosa.

Tsitsipas, now 26, has become one of the top players in tennis, with a breakthrough season in 2018. However, before his rise to fame, he endured tough experiences in his teenage years. Apostoli shared that Stefanos was “a very quiet and shy kid,” which made him a target for bullies at school.

“He was a very quiet child and very shy. Because of sports, he missed classes, and the kids in his class didn’t treat him well. There were two or three boys who often beat him up. It wasn’t easy for Stefanos, but tennis helped him cope and stay focused on moving forward,” Apostoli recalled.

Addressing the recent split between Stefanos and his father Apostolos, who had been his long-time coach, Julia revealed that tensions between the two had been simmering for years. During a match at the Montreal Masters, Stefanos publicly vented his frustration at his father, resulting in Apostolos leaving the court. Following this, Stefanos made the decision to part ways with him as his coach. According to Apostoli, the decision had been a long time coming.

“We had discussed since 2020 that Stefanos might need a new coach, but he continued to achieve good results. Still, the relationship between them became strained. There were conflicts, and this change was necessary. We don’t see it as a tragedy; we remain a close family,” Apostoli explained.

Julia Apostoli also spoke about Tsitsipas’ relationship with Paula Badosa. In May, Badosa announced on social media that the couple had split, but soon after, they were seen together again in Monte Carlo. The reunion was confirmed by Tsitsipas ahead of the French Open.

Reflecting on the brief separation, Apostoli hinted that her son was likely the reason for the break but expressed support for Badosa. “Stefanos is happy now, and that’s what matters. I was on Paula’s side during their breakup, and we talked. That helped them find each other again,” she said.

Tsitsipas, meanwhile, addressed the rumors surrounding their relationship when he arrived at Roland Garros. “We are together,” he clarified. “There were stories circulating, but neither Paula nor I did anything wrong. It was difficult to be apart, but I was under a lot of pressure from tennis. I thought it would be easier to separate the two parts of my life, but after a few weeks, I realized how much we love each other.”

Badosa, who teamed up with Tsitsipas to play mixed doubles at the US Open, agreed with her boyfriend’s comments. Although they were knocked out in the first round, it seems their relationship off the court is back on solid ground.