Stefanos Tsitsipas, currently ranked World No. 6 in men’s tennis, has opened up about the challenging upbringing his mother endured during her early years in the Soviet Union. This revelation sheds light on the strong character and discipline that have become an integral part of Tsitsipas’s identity.

Hailing from a family deeply rooted in tennis, Tsitsipas’s father, Apostolos, serves as his coach. Apostolos, who once played tennis on the lower tiers and briefly worked as a line judge, transitioned into coaching and has been guiding his son since Stefanos was just three years old. On the other hand, Tsitsipas’s mother, Julia Apostoli, also had a professional tennis career. She initially represented the Soviet Union in 1980, making her Fed Cup (now the Billie Jean King Cup) debut in their colors. However, after marrying Apostolos and acquiring Greek citizenship in the 1990s, she switched her allegiance.

Stefanos Tsitsipas’s recount of his mother’s life in the Soviet Union underscores the hardships faced by its residents during that era and how they’ve shaped his values. He believes that the difficulties his mother confronted instilled a profound sense of discipline and character, as she had to “fight” for everything she desired.

“Perhaps the discipline that comes with it. Who am I to know what happened in the Soviet Union, but I will tell you something, I feel like these people back then went through hardships and tough times, and I can see that from my mom. Life wasn’t easy, and she had to fight for her stuff to get the stuff that she wanted.”

“I think that builds character. That builds you to the core, in a way. Strong and disciplined and willing to sacrifice and work hard for the things that you want to achieve in life.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas’s recent tennis performances have demonstrated his growth and commitment to the sport. He has reached three semifinals in his last three tournaments, securing his place in the ATP Finals for the fifth consecutive year. This continued success in tennis reflects the strong foundation of character and discipline that has been an enduring part of his journey, influenced by his mother’s early life experiences in the Soviet Union.

Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2023

Now ranked no.6, Stefanos played his last match on the 4^th of November when he capitulated to world no.14 Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-7(1) 7-6(3) in the semifinal in Paris (draw).

This season Stefanos owns an overall 51-22 match record. Tsitsipas clinched 1 title in Los Cabos. Tsitsipas reached the final at the Australian Open and Barcelona.