Jimmy Connors imparts wisdom to Stefanos Tsitsipas amid criticism for relationship with Paula Badosa - “Try to keep your mind on your business”

Jimmy Connors recently gave advice to Stefanos Tsitsipas on maintaining a balance between his professional and personal life amid criticism for being in a relationship with Paula Badosa.

Tsitsipas and Badosa will soon celebrate the first anniversary of their relationship as they have been together since June 2023. The two have been quite vocal about their bond and supported each other on both the professional and personal fronts.

Badosa has missed out on the majority of the competitive action on court after sustaining a back injury at the Italian Open in May 2023. Her WTA women's singles ranking has taken a major hit due to inactivity as she recently dropped out of the Top 100.

Tsitsipas' graph also witnessed a dip after he won only one title (Los Cabos Open) in the 2023 season. On February 19, 2024, he exited the ATP Top 10 for the first time in five years. At times, the tennis community attributed his decline to the Greek's relationship with his girlfriend.

Jimmy Connors' son Brett highlighted the same while talking to the former during a recent episode of the Advantage Connors podcast.

"You’re kind of waiting like thinking this guy [Stefanos Tsitsipas] has Grand Slam potential so for him to fall out of the Top 10 doesn’t seem right and then he’s got into a highly publicized relationship with Paula Badosa so some of the criticism has been directed at that, he’s distracted maybe or whatever," Brett said (at 8:25).

Jimmy Connors, in response, suggested that life outside the court is fundamental to success on the court and advised Tsitsipas to manage his relationships and professional commitments by focusing on himself.

"Listen, life is life, I mean there’s more going on on a daily basis than just playing tennis. But you’ve got to remember that is your life at the time, that doesn’t go forever. So try to keep your mind on your business and relationships are important, family is important. You’ve got to adjust to that and it’s not physical in the game, it’s your mind and how you accept that within yourself," the eight-time Grand Slam champion said.

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"Seems like Stefanos Tsitsipas has got that straightened out now with the success of the last couple of weeks" - Jimmy Connors

Stefanos Tsitsipas lifts the Monte-Carlo 2024 winner's trophy.

During the same episode of the Advantage Connors podcast, Jimmy Connors opined that Stefanos Tsitsipas has returned to his potential self in the last couple of weeks with the crowning at the Monte-Carlo Masters, runner-up finish at the Barcelona Open, and regaining his spot inside the Top 10.

"He [Stefanos Tsitsipas] will get that straightened out. Seems like he’s got that straightened out now with the success of the last couple of weeks," Jimmy Connors said.

Connors continued:

"He is proven. Sometimes you’ve a little fall off that cliff a little bit but the climb back is the hard work and once you get back there, the feeling of accomplishment is pretty good."

Stefanos Tsitsipas' next essay is the Madrid Masters 2024, where he's already through to the second round on the back of a bye in the first as the sixth seed.