Tsitsidosa returns! Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas link up for joint Doha practice

They're baaaaaack! Off-court power couple Paula Badosa and Stefanos Tsitsipas linked up on court in Doha this week for a joint practice session that helped the former world No. 2 get ready for another return to competition.

After an encouraging third-round effort at the Australian Open to start the year, Badosa retired with a back injury in the second round in Hua Hin two weeks ago, and updated fans afterwards that it was not a reccurrance of the problem that took her out of action for six months last year. She withdrew from the WTA 500 in Abu Dhabi last week, but likely would've been happy with how her body held up to kick off her week at Qatar's WTA 1000 event, considering her winning return took two days.

The former world No.2's first-round match against American Ashlyn Krueger was suspended due to rain on Sunday night, with the Spaniard leading 4-2 in the final set, and she eventually finished it off 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Monday.

Before Badosa clinched victory, the WTA's official social media pages gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at Badosa and Tsitsipas practicing, where the pair traded groundstrokes, shared encouraging words, and parted with a high-five and kiss on the cheek. Tsitsipas was also seated in Badosa's player box for both halves of the match.

"I'm super happy to be back on court. I'm trying to enjoy, to get back my level again. It hasn't been easy at all, but I'm finally here again. I always loved to play here, so it's nice to be back," Badosa said afterwards in her on-court interview, telling longtime tournament emcee Andy Taylor that she was happy to spend more time with loved ones.

While Tsitsipas hasn't hit a ball in match action since his fourth--round loss to Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open, the odds are good that he'll be back courtside when Badosa is back in action on Tuesday against 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.