Paula Badosa pairs “soulmates” Aryna Sabalenka, Stefanos Tsitsipas for World Tennis League wins

Business got very personal for Paula Badosa on the first day of the 2023 World Tennis League, but the former world No. 2 channeled the strong bonds with her teammates to lead the Kites to a 27-22 victory over an Eagles team led by Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev.

Competing at the Ethiad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Badosa paired with “tour soulmate” Aryna Sabalenka and with boyfriend Stefanos Tsitsipas in women’s and mixed doubles, respectively, earning the Kites a lead that Sabalenka ultimately clinched with a women’s singles win over Mirra Andreeva.

“Sabadosa” was fast out of the blocks in their first doubles outing since 2022, shimmying to a 6-3 win against Andreeva and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. In their first attempt at mixed doubles, “Tsitsidosa” proved similarly effective against Kenin and Medvedev with a 6-4 win that kept their relationship intact.

“This was the test today, either we get divorced or it goes better and better...” joked Badosa after the match.

Badosa and Tsitsipas made their relationship public following 2023 Roland Garros with a couples Instagram account, but both struggled with injuries throughout the summer and fall: Badosa shut down her season after Wimbledon due to a nagging back injury, and Tsitsipas was forced to withdraw from the Nitto ATP Finals with the same ailment.

The Spaniard goes even farther back with Sabalenka, having cemented their friendship in the spring of 2022 and spending time together on vacation in Dubai.

“She's super nice with a big heart and very humble,” Badosa said of Sabalenka last year. “That's what I really like to see, players like that.”

Earlier in the afternoon, Elena Rybakina led the Falcons to a 25-24 upset over the Hawks, shocking world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in a supertiebreaker despite a defeat in women’s singles.

Swiatek’s 6-4 win tied the Hawks and Falcons at 24-24, leading to a sudden death reminiscent of Billie Jean King’s World TeamTennis matches. Rybakina turned the tables on the Pole with a 10-8 decision that edged the Falcons over the finish line.

The Falcons will face the Kites in the first clash of Day 2, while the Eagles will take on the Hawks in search of their first wins of the week.