Wimbledon 2023: ‘Thank God’ – Stefanos Tsitsipas relieved to be out of mixed doubles with Paula Badosa injured

Stefanos Tsitsipas was in a jovial mood after Paula Badosa’s retirement from the tournament due to injury ended his mixed doubles campaign at Wimbledon.

Badosa was forced to retire in her second-round singles match against Marta Kostyuk with a recurring spinal injury, ending the pair’s mixed doubles hopes.

Tsitsipas has seen interruptions in his first two singles matches: the first-round match against Thiem was suspended by two days due to the weather, while the meeting with Murray was curtailed on Thursday due to the evening curfew.

With that in mind, the world No. 5 was seemingly pleased to see his hectic schedule eased.

“Mixed [doubles] is not a thing anymore, thank God. I prefer to live,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“It never crossed my mind that I would be doing all three in a single event, but I also see it from the bright side. You like tennis so much, you want to be in these Slams for as long as possible.

“You want to challenge yourself in singles, doubles, mixed doubles. I personally like mixed doubles.”

Tsitsipas is now challenging on two fronts at the All-England Club in the men’s singles and men’s doubles.

He is competing in the men’s doubles alongside brother Petros, with their first-round match against Luca Van Assche and Arthur Fils interrupted due to the Wimbledon curfew.

The 24-year-old’s immediate focus is on a third-round singles match against Laslo Djere on Saturday afternoon.

Djere advanced to the third round after overcoming the Americans Maxime Cressy and Ben Shelton in rounds one and two, respectively.

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