Paula Badosa sends emotional Stefanos Tsitsipas plea to crowd on court at Australian Open

Paula Badosa asked the Australian Open crowd to give a round of applause for her boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is “not having the best moment” in Melbourne.

Tsitsipas, a runner-up in 2023, crashed out of the opening Grand Slam of the year to American star Alex Michelsen on the second day of the tournament.

The 11th seed went down 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 to his 20-year-old opponent, having gone out in the first round of last year’s US Open and the second round of Wimbledon.

Badosa, meanwhile, breezed into the third round Down Under as she defeated Talia Gibson 6-1, 6-0 in just 48 minutes.

She was pleased that Tsitsipas, watching on, did not have to sit through another lengthy battle – which has become customary for the Spanish star.