2026 has been a forgettable year for Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek slipped outside the top 80 in the ATP singles rankings before rebounding to No. 51 after ending a 16-month title drought by winning the Gstaad Open. That victory should give him a major confidence boost heading into the North American hard-court swing, where he opens his campaign against Australia’s Alex de Minaur at the Mubadala DC Open.
One interesting aspect of this matchup is the stark contrast between the players’ current rankings and their head-to-head record. Despite sitting well below De Minaur in the rankings, Tsitsipas has dominated the rivalry, holding a commanding 12-1 advantage. He has also won nine of their 10 meetings on hard courts, making him the favorite despite his inconsistent season.
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Who Is Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Girlfriend, Kristen Thoms?
While Tsitsipas is aiming to re-establish himself among the ATP Tour’s elite, his personal life has also undergone a major change. The Greek star has a new presence in his player box, and her name is Kristen Thomas. Tsitsipas has made his relationship with his new girlfriend public, particularly after lifting the Gstaad title.
Rumors linking the pair first surfaced in mid-2025 after they were spotted together in Athens. Tsitsipas later made the relationship official through a YouTube vlog released in January, which featured the couple spending Christmas together while exploring the landscapes of Namibia.
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Since then, Kristen has become a regular presence at many of Tsitsipas’ tournaments.
Kristen Thomas is a 29-year-old former American collegiate tennis player. She represented both the University of Iowa and Florida Atlantic University, competing in collegiate tennis between 2014 and 2016.
After stepping away from competitive tennis, Kristen transitioned into fashion modeling and sports marketing. She earned a degree in Communication and Media Studies from Florida Atlantic University and now works with multiple brands on marketing and strategy.
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Despite the growing attention surrounding their relationship, Tsitsipas and Kristen have largely kept their romance private, particularly following his high-profile relationship with WTA star Paula Badosa.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas and Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa at a doubles event in 2023 Antwerp Open. (Photo by JASPER JACOBS/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)JASPER JACOBS/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
The pair, affectionately nicknamed “Tsitsidosa” by tennis fans, began dating in 2023 before ending their relationship in 2025. Reports suggested that the demands of their respective careers and the pressures of living in the public eye contributed to the breakup.
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Badosa also spoke candidly about the split, revealing that relentless social media scrutiny and what she described as “toxic” family dynamics played a significant role in the relationship ending.
Now that both have moved on, Tsitsipas will be hoping to rebuild not only his confidence but also his tennis as he looks to make a strong push during the second half of the 2026 season.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the Tennis section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
