Tsitsipas vacations in Africa with new girlfriend; Medvedev wins title and happily calls on ATP to add more cities

Recently, Greek star Tsitsipas posted on social media photos from his trip to Namibia with his new girlfriend Christine, and their affectionate moments attracted much attention from netizens.

The video shows them walking on the red dunes of Namibia’s desert, appreciating the grandeur of one of the oldest deserts on earth, with footage also showing their engagement with local children and sampling traditional cuisine.

“Balancing professional tennis with personal life has always been a challenge,” Tsitsipas wrote in the caption. “But finding someone who understands your lifestyle and exploring the world together feels amazing.”

This marks Tsitsipas’s third public relationship in the past year. His previous romance was with Spanish beauty Badosa, which ended before the 2025 French Open. Since then, his performance sharply declined, with analysts attributing the slump to emotional and injury issues. Tsitsipas’s mother also revealed in an interview that the breakup dealt him a significant psychological blow. In the 2025 season, his world ranking plummeted, with his only title coming early in Dubai.

Regarding Tsitsipas’s new relationship, some fans believe athletes are human too and deserve rest and private life without interference. However, others questioned the timing, saying, “The Australian Open is about to start; is traveling to Africa really appropriate now? Adjusting to the time difference will take days.” Some defended him, arguing, “Everyone prepares differently; maybe this relaxation is exactly what he needs.”

More rational supporters commented, “It’s good that he’s moving on! As fans, we just want him to perform well at the Australian Open; his private life is his own choice.”

Turning to another tennis news, just yesterday, Russian star Medvedev claimed his first singles title of the 2026 season in Brisbane. This victory holds special meaning for Medvedev, not only as a major success this year but also as a sign that his new coaching team is starting to gel. At the end of last year, Medvedev ended his long-term coaching relationship and formed a new team with Johansson and Götz.

“It’s the first time in years I’ve had such a long preseason training, and I feel great,” Medvedev said at the post-match press conference. He highlighted the new team’s roles: “Thomas handles the day-to-day work, while Rohan focuses more on technique; they complement each other very well.”

Medvedev’s 22nd ATP singles title set a unique record — each championship was won in a different city. Starting from Sydney in 2018 to Brisbane in 2026, his titles span across the globe.

When asked about this distinct achievement, Medvedev showed his trademark humor: “That’s a funny trivia. Dear ATP Tour, can you add more cities? I’m running out of places to win!”

He further explained, “My goal this year is to win again in a city where I’ve already triumphed. Of course, if I win in Melbourne, that list will grow to 23 different cities, which would be great.” This statement reflects both his confidence and anticipation for the upcoming Australian Open.

With the Brisbane trophy in hand, Medvedev is now focused on the Australian Open starting January 18. In an interview, he confidently stated, “I feel in good shape now and look forward to competing in the Grand Slam with my new team. If I lose early, I’ll be surprised, but if it happens, I’ll accept it and keep fighting in future tournaments.”

Former world No.1 Corretja commented, “This is typical Medvedev humor combined with confidence; he expresses faith in his form without arrogance. More importantly, it shows he has bounced back from last year’s struggles.”

Medvedev has reached the Australian Open final three times (2019, 2021, and 2022) but never claimed the title. Melbourne Park has been both a lucky and frustrating venue for him, and this year he clearly hopes to overcome that disappointment.

Regarding Medvedev’s record of 22 titles in 22 cities and his humorous remarks, some fans said, “This record is awesome; he’s like the ‘geographical conqueror’ of tennis.” Others joked, “Medvedev just gave the ATP a tough scheduling problem for next year.”

As the Australian Open approaches, the form and preparation of these two stars will be a major focus.

For Medvedev, the Brisbane title has already proven his competitiveness. His performance on hard courts has been strong, especially on Australia’s fast hard surfaces. If he stays healthy and maintains his current form, he is fully capable of challenging for the Australian Open crown once again.

As for Tsitsipas, he needs to show that his African trip is an effective preparation rather than a distraction. Fans hope he can regain his best form and recapture his former brilliance. The curtain will rise on the Australian Open soon, and all answers will be revealed in the coming two weeks.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)