EXCLUSIVE: Upbeat Stefanos Tsitsipas eyes maiden French Open crown, stays cautious of star-studded friends

On this planet filled with Nadals, Federers and Djokovics, we now have somebody like Stefanos Tsitsipas has been ready within the wings for his second – one thing he’s been dreaming of since he was a child, and it’s about time earlier than he breaks into the elite checklist. Talking completely to WION’s Sports activities Editor Digvijay Singh Deo, the Greek tennis star talked about how he’s getting ready for the second slam of the 12 months – French Open, how did he cope with the 2023 Australian Open ultimate loss, and what’s crucial factor for him and way more.

The world quantity 5 and a former two-time Grand Slam finalist, Tsitsipas is upbeat about breaking the grand slam title jinx whereas additionally remaining conscious of the problem forward of him. At the moment in Rome for the continued 2023 Italian Open, Tsitsipas feels he’s in the appropriate area and feels higher heading into the French Open that begins in a few weeks.

When requested how he feels about the identical in his head, Tsitsipas stated, “My 12 months has been alright; I’ve been higher for positive. I actually hope I get to do one thing this week when it comes to getting a giant outcome, and I really feel like I can.

“I’ve had a couple of quarterfinals in the previous couple of tournaments and a ultimate in Barcelona, which I’m type of pleased with, however I’m working for extra consistency concerning factors and massive outcomes, and I’m hoping to show myself within the subsequent two weeks,” the Greek celebrity stated.

Damage, success and taking part in wholesome

Speaking intimately about coping with newest accidents and the way popping out of it took some doing, Tsitsipas stated it’s by no means simple within the first place because it places one down and kills the motivation to get higher, realizing the bodily situation won’t permit that.

“I handled an harm a couple of months again, and it put me down; I wasn’t feeling nice,” Tsitsipas stated.

Now, with the French Open in entrance of him, Tsitsipas added to have that feeling which can be you not injured, and there’s nothing to cease you from attaining your goals is nice in itself. He additionally stated crucial factor for him is to play wholesome, and the whole lot else comes second.

“Now, realizing I haven’t got an harm or nothing is there to cease me, it’s a nice feeling,” he stated. I’m hoping to remain wholesome.

“A very powerful factor now’s to play wholesome and never really feel any ache or any inconvenience when I’m on the court docket,” Tsitsipas added.

Tsitsipas and his challengers 

When requested in regards to the challenges that awaits him and his friends, in Carlos Alcaraz and Dominic Thiem, to call a couple of – Tsitsipas stated he’s conscious of their success and is aware of what they will ship on the large stage. Remaining optimistic about his possibilities of doing nicely on the 2023 French Open, a Slam the place he misplaced to Novak Djokovic within the finals in 2021, Tsitsipas stated if they will obtain glory, so can he, and there’s no purpose for him not to take action.

“No I do not,” stated Tsitsipas when requested if he’s jealous of his friends.

“They play nice tennis; they’re extraordinarily skilled in what they do. If they will then I can too, and I see no purpose for me to not. I’ll take my time; I’m not in a rush, it is a marathon, and I’ll work accordingly to make that occur.

“Carlos Alcaraz is clearly a giant competitor, and he is somebody who units the bar excessive,” Tsitsipas, on whom he thinks will problem him for the French Open title.

“Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev are others; the competitors is excessive; you need to be extra bodily and extra technical than ever.”

On shedding to Novak in 2023 Australian Open ultimate

For the second time in his profession, Tsitsipas misplaced to Novak Djokovic – this time, within the finals of 2023 Australian Open.

Sharing his ideas on how he felt upon struggling the loss and what it meant to him shedding an opportunity to turn out to be the world primary.

“It was a five-set thriller; it did get shut within the third set, which was the tie breaker. I truthfully felt I used to be taking part in nicely, however he was controlling the match,” Tsitsipas stated.

“It was disappointing to lose, however I used to be capable of convert myself into feeling regular…,” he added.

Answering about shedding a chance to on prime of rankings, Tsitsipas stated, “There have been quite a lot of issues at stake throughout that Novak ultimate and one among them being the world primary rankings; I used to be loud about desirous to be primary and quick ahead one and a half month later, I felt I may pull it off, however that didn’t occur. I’m positive my time will come,” he concluded.