Stefanos Tsitsipas 'still upset' and points blame after not playing with Paula Badosa

Stefanos Tsitsipas has admitted he is 'still upset' about not getting to play mixed doubles with his girlfriend, Paula Badosa, at the French Open. The pair decided to withdraw when their match, along with another of Tsitsipas' doubles obligations, fell the day before his high-stakes quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz.

Former world No. 2 Badosa and two-time Grand Slam finalist Tsitsipas have become the 'power couple' of tennis, with their relationship reigniting last month a few weeks after they split up.

Despite playing men's doubles alongside his brother, Petros, and being seeded ninth for the men's singles event, Tsitsipas still signed up for mixed doubles with Badosa at Roland Garros, leaving him with three plates to spin.

Eventually it proved too demanding as Tsitsipas advanced to the men's singles quarter-finals, setting up a showdown with third seed Alcaraz. On Monday, the day before his meeting with the Spaniard, Tsitsipas was drawn to play men's doubles with his brother and mixed doubles with Badosa.

The Greek ended up winning his match alongside Petros but pulled out of the mixed competition. Tsitsipas claims the withdrawal was 'upsetting', with a rainy few days in France bunching up the fixture schedule and contributing to the decision.

"I'm still upset about it," he said. "I have to blame the weather in Paris. It was a disaster. I didn't expect that I would have to play two doubles [matches] in one day, especially a day before a big match like the singles quarter-finals.

"It's too much for anyone and I think it was a wise decision to retire from one of them. I'm glad Paula understood and was the first to suggest it a few days ago but I was convinced I could handle it and be okay. It was difficult.

"You want to play with someone who you felt had worked [well with] before and there's something good. It hurts a little. We shouldn't be too sad because we will have the opportunity in the coming years to play countless Slams."

While Badosa's French Open singles campaign was ended by Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday, Tsitsipas' bid is alive and kicking, with a string of four consecutive victories leaving him three matches from a maiden Grand Slam title.

The 25-year-old has only dropped two sets across wins over Marton Fucsovics, Daniel Altmaier, Zhang Zhizhen and Matteo Arnaldi. But in Alcaraz, Tsitsipas faces by far his toughest test yet.