“In women’s sports, personal side is more focused than in men’s” – Paula Badosa makes frustrations clear with gender bias in tennis
Paula Badosa, the former World No. 2 and four-time WTA title winner, has voiced her frustration with the disproportionate focus on women’s personal lives in tennis compared to their male counterparts. In a candid interview with the Spanish edition of *Elle* magazine, reported by *Sportskeeda* on June 25, 2025, Badosa stated, “In women’s sports, the personal side is more focused than in men’s,” highlighting a persistent gender bias in media coverage. The Spaniard’s remarks come as she prepares for Wimbledon, starting June 30, 2025, following a challenging grass-court season marked by an injury-forced retirement in Berlin.
Badosa, 27, expressed exasperation over the media’s tendency to intertwine her professional and personal lives, particularly her high-profile relationship with ATP star Stefanos Tsitsipas. “Within the role of a tennis player, this is the part I’d like to erase. I feel like my professional and personal lives are completely intertwined, also because of the person I’m with, but sometimes it’s hard to manage,” she said, per @TrackerTennis on X. She noted that topics like her relationship are often discussed in women’s tennis, unlike in men’s, where the focus remains on athletic performance. “Topics are discussed that shouldn’t even be touched upon,” she added, per *ProFootballNetwork.com*.[](https://www.profootballnetwork.com/tennis/paula-badosa-speaks-out-against-media-intrusion-in-womens-tennis-after-stefanos-tsitsipas-relationship-scrutiny/)
The scrutiny intensified since Badosa and Tsitsipas went public in June 2023, with critics linking her form dips to their relationship, a narrative she dismissed in a 2024 *La Vanguardia* interview: “People don’t realize we share the same passion.” Her recent third-round French Open exit and withdrawal from Berlin’s quarterfinals against Wang Xinyu due to a recurring back injury fueled further speculation, which she addressed with resilience: “I’ve accepted that [criticisms] are not my problem, but rather the problem of those who spread them”.[](https://www.profootballnetwork.com/tennis/paula-badosa-speaks-out-against-media-intrusion-in-womens-tennis-after-stefanos-tsitsipas-relationship-scrutiny/)
Badosa’s comments echo broader research, like a 2016 *ResearchGate* study, which found that women’s tennis coverage often emphasizes appearance and relationships over athleticism, unlike men’s. Her stance has sparked debate, with some fans on X praising her candor, while others criticized her for downplaying issues like the gender pay gap in past interviews, where she argued earnings reflect revenue generation. Despite the controversy, Badosa’s 2024 WTA Comeback Player of the Year award and Washington, D.C., title highlight her determination to refocus on her game.[]
As Badosa, ranked No. 12, aims for a deep Wimbledon run, her call for equal treatment in media coverage underscores a critical issue in women’s tennis, challenging the sport to prioritize performance over personal narratives.
