Stefanos Tsitsipas, the former World No. 3, is grappling with the effects of what he describes as “long-term burnout” after a disappointing first-round exit at the US Open. Tsitsipas, who was seeded No. 11, suffered a 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 defeat to Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis, marking the second time in three years that he has bowed out in the opening round at Flushing Meadows.
In a candid post-match press conference, Tsitsipas reflected on his recent struggles, admitting that his form has been in decline for an extended period. “What I’m struggling with right now is getting into that rhythm of wins and consistent good runs in Masters 1000s and big tournaments, those moments I had two or three years ago,” Tsitsipas revealed. “I remember feeling great, being able to reproduce that week after week. Right now I’m way too far from even doing that. I just need to find ways that can help me get back to the wins first.”
Tsitsipas, who once played with a youthful intensity and focus, confessed that those feelings have faded. “I’m nothing compared to the player I was before. I remember myself playing when I was younger, playing with adrenaline on the court, feeling like my life depends on the match,” he said. “These things, I feel like they have faded off, and let’s say my level of consistency hasn’t been as big. I remember my concentration used to be at its highest, at its peak, back then, and that’s something that I felt has dropped a little bit.”
The 26-year-old Greek star also opened up about his emotional and mental state, describing how burnout has affected his performance and mindset. “I’m not an expert, I’m not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but I’ve had these discussions before with some of the people that I’ve spoken to and I do feel like there is some sort of a long-term burnout,” Tsitsipas acknowledged. “I’ve already been feeling it since the beginning of the year. I feel like it’s a type of burnout that, regardless if you stop or not, it has happened already and it’s not going to repair or regenerate itself just purely because of vacation or staying away from the courts.”
This defeat adds to a challenging summer for Tsitsipas, who entered the US Open with a lackluster 1-2 record on North American hard courts. The tournament was only his second since parting ways with his father, Apostolos, who had long served as his coach. Tsitsipas is currently working with Dimitris Hadjinikolaou, Greece’s Davis Cup captain, while he searches for a new coach.
Despite his early exit in singles, Tsitsipas won’t be away from the courts for long. He is scheduled to compete in mixed doubles with his girlfriend, Paula Badosa, on Thursday. As Tsitsipas continues to search for answers and regain his former form, the tennis world watches with anticipation, hoping he can overcome his current challenges and return to the heights he once reached.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2024
Ranked world no.11, Tsitsipas played his last match on the 27th of August when he surrendered to world no.86 Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6(5) 4-6 6-3 7-5 in the 1st round of the U.S. Open (draw).
This year Stefanos achieved a compiled 36-17 record. This year, Stefanos won 1 title in Monte-Carlo. Tsitsipas got to the final in Barcelona.
Stefanos Tsitsipas will square off with the world no.660 John Isner in the Round Robin on Sunday at 6:00 pm on CENTER COURT. Their actual record is 6-2 for Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas conquered 1 title in 2024 in Monte-Carlo. Stefanos was the runner-up in Barcelona (Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell).
Stefanos won 12 titles in his career: 1 on hard courts, 5 on clay courts, 5 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Tsitsipas is scheduled to compete next in Tokyo (Japan Open Tennis Championships). He will start from the main draw that will commence on the 25th of September.
Stefanos Tsitsipas |
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