Stefanos Tsitsipas, a Greek player who is trying to win back-to-back matches for the first time since early August, has resisted claims that he is ‘no longer focused on tennis’.
Just over two months have passed since Tsitsipas’s Las Cabos title, but he has struggled with form and has been altering his coaching arrangement. Tsitsipas said in Shanghai that his partnership with Mark Philippoussis, with whom he had resumed coaching in Mexico, had ended because he was losing his identity.
Even though his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, has recently returned to his role as head coach, the world No. 7 was unable to defeat Ugo Humbert in the Masters 1000 event last week.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has asserted that downfalls in form are a natural part of being a professional tennis player. He expressed his thoughts in a recent interview and said: “There are always going to be moments like this, and I’m pretty sure it’s not going to be the last time something like this happens. And I do feel it. I do feel the disappointment and I do feel the need to get better. I have been working a lot of hours on the court. We are still in the time, through difficult times we grow. And I try to see it from the bright side, even though it hurts a little bit.”
He added: “People who claim that I am no longer focussed on tennis, I train more than I ever did in my career. I don’t want to prove anything to anyone, except to myself, to prove to myself that I am capable of regaining my level. I believe in it.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2023
Currently ranked no.7, Tsitsipas played his last match on the 9th of October when he was defeated by world no.29 Ugo Humbert 6-4 3-6 7-5 in the 3rd round in Shanghai (draw).
This year the Greek has a composed 43-19 win-loss record. Tsitsipas conquered 1 title in Los Cabos. Tsitsipas was the runner-up at the Australian Open and Barcelona.
He is also scheduled to play in Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) after Vienna. The main draw will start on the 23rd of October.