In a surprising twist of events, Paula Badosa, the Spanish tennis sensation, will not be joining forces with her beau, Stefanos Tsitsipas, for the Eisenhower Cup at Indian Wells. The Greek tennis maven will instead be paired with a new partner, as announced by the tournament organizers.
The dynamic tennis duo was slated to take on the challenge of the Tie-Break Tens event in the desert this year, replicating their successful pairing from the last year. However, Badosa’s unexpected retirement from her Merida quarterfinal match due to injury has cast a shadow over these plans.
The official confirmation came in the form of a statement from the Indian Wells organizers: “Paula Badosa has withdrawn from the Eisenhower Cup. A replacement partner for Stefanos Tsitsipas will be announced later today.” The news has sent ripples through the tennis community, as fans were eagerly awaiting the power couple’s performance in the upcoming event.
Looking back at the previous year’s Eisenhower Cup, the Spanish-Greek pair had come tantalizingly close to securing the title. They were narrowly defeated by Emma Navarro and Ben Shelton, losing their chance to claim their first title as a team, despite it being an exhibition match.
With Badosa’s withdrawal from the Eisenhower Cup, questions are now being raised about her participation in the singles competition in the desert. The 10th-ranked player recently revealed that she is grappling with a back injury. Badosa, who reached the semifinals of the 2025 Australian Open, shared a message on her Instagram: “Hey everyone, thanks so much for all the messages and support. I had to pull out of the match in Mérida because of lower back pain, but I’m already working on getting better.”
At Indian Wells, Badosa, seeded No. 11, has a first-round bye. Should she decide to brave her injury and participate in the opening event of the Sunshine Double, she will be pitted against the victor of the match between Caroline Dolehide and Kamila Rakhimova in the second round.
As the tennis world waits with bated breath for Badosa’s decision, all eyes are now on Tsitsipas as the Indian Wells organizers get ready to announce his new partner for the Eisenhower Cup. As the suspense builds, fans are hoping for an exciting tournament and a swift recovery for Badosa.
