In the spring of 2018, a racket unknown to the general public emerged in Barcelona. A young man with long, golden and wavy hair, with an appearance that evoked that of an athlete from ancient Greece, surprised locals and strangers during the week of the Conde de Godó Trophy. Only Rafael Nadal in the final was able to stop Stéfanos Tsitsipás (Athens, 12/VIII/1998), a rare bird on the circuit as there are not many Greek tennis players.
That letter of introduction was only the beginning of a promising career endorsed in subsequent years. At 24 years old, Tsitsipás is already a reference in world tennis. Number five in the world, of his nine titles, the 2019 Masters Cup and the two Monte Carlo Masters 1000 (2021 and 2022) shine brightly in his showcase, although he continues to yearn for a Grand Slam tournament. He has played two finals (Roland Garros 2021 and Australian Open 2023), both lost to Novak Djokovic, his executioner, as was Nadal at Godó (he also fell in the 2021 edition).
On the occasion of the Barcelona tournament, whose debut will be this Wednesday, he attends La Vanguardia to publicize more personal aspects of his life. She does it with a thoughtful speech, wanting to regain her passion for tennis after some difficult last months due to injury.
What is your first memory with a racket?
The first image that comes to mind is rallying with my father. He would be about three years old.
He belongs to a family deeply rooted in tennis. What role has she played in making her a professional tennis player?
It is undeniable that my parents are very much to blame for this. In Greece there was not much tradition of this sport and they taught me everything since I was a child. My mother (the modest tennis player Julia Salnikova) was my first coach. With her I learned to be disciplined, something that I consider very important as a basis for any future tennis player. To this day it remains a fundamental quality. On the other side of the scale is the positive spirit and optimism of my father (Apóstolos, his coach since he was a professional). It has turned out to be a perfect combination.
Your father's dedication to you has been absolute since he left Athens as a child.
I appreciate everything you both did to help me grow into who I am today. My father sacrificed many things for me, he left his job when I was 10 years old to travel with me (Tsitsipas trained at the Patrick Mouratoglou academy, on the Côte d'Azur). Over time I understood the enormous sacrifice of him.
It literally saved his life when he was drowning in the sea as a teenager. How did that accident affect you?
Being about to die made me wake up; It changed my way of seeing life and tennis. I realized how lucky I was to be here, alive. Since then nothing scares me. Mentally it made me stronger.
In Barcelona, at just 19 years old, his first great week arrived.
It was an incredible experience. He was young and new to the ATP circuit. Playing the final against Nadal on the track that bears his name was something special. It didn't go so well that day, but I took all the positives out of my performance in the tournament. It also made me happy that my country knew the high level of tennis that I have. I would love to be the first Greek to win in Barcelona and, as tradition dictates, jump into that pool as a champion! I always want to play here.
Half of his career successes have come on clay. In increasingly fast-paced tennis, what does it mean to you to play on this surface?
When I hear "clay ground" my heart melts. Playing on these types of tracks allows us to think and build points. Tennis tends to be faster, more physical, more powerful. That has been expensive for us because it prevents us from seeing so many exchanges. Even we tennis players like to live them, we want to see great points and be amazed by ourselves when we play. I think the fans also want rallies and clay allows that, more than any other surface. When we play on clay we become real artists.
In the tournament he coincides again with Alcaraz or Sinner. In Miami, he said that having tough competition with the new generations makes him better. Because?
I base myself on the Ubuntu philosophy. The fact that someone is better or does things well automatically helps me to be a better athlete, a better tennis player. Some will look for another way to achieve it, but personally I think that having difficult opponents makes me grow. And I want it to be harder, I want it to be more complicated for me to figure it out, because that's what will make me better. It's like pulling a string.
Who will not be this time is Nadal. What does his absence mean?
Going back to the Ubuntu belief, I think we are all dying to be able to play against Nadal on clay. It is an experience for life that few can boast. So it's a shame not to have that opportunity here this year. I hope you get better soon.
After Australia he has dragged a shoulder injury that has prevented him from performing as he would like. How have those discomforts affected your confidence in your game?
Psychologically it has been difficult because I haven't played many games in recent months and it's not what I expected. After Melbourne I had to find rhythm, sensations and consistency in the game. And this is only acquired by playing. I'm a little behind. I am not very happy with my results after a great Australian Open. Since then I have unfortunately added few points. I hope I can make up for it in the next tournaments.
What are your most immediate goals?
My short-term goal is to reignite my passion for the sport. Walking away having to deal with my injury has made me skeptical. It has even confused me. And I just want to get back on track, play with joy, play with freedom. Of course I aspire to results, but I want to be happy when I pick up a racket. Then I will continue working hard to get my first Grand Slam.
Photography, podcasts, travel videos, social networks... What do you most like to do when you're not competing?
I love being active and experimenting, I wouldn't separate my hobbies into different categories. This more creative part helps me clear my mind of the clues, stay calm and share my passions, which makes me really happy. It comes naturally to me and I do it with the hope of being able to motivate other people. I am very lucky to be able to be on the circuit and travel the world.
