Blossoming at Monaco: The Rise of Stefanos Tsitsipas

Focused: Stefanos Tsitsipas © APA/afp / VALERY HACHE

When Jannik Sinner competes in the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo on Saturday (from 1.30 p.m.), he will face an opponent who is literally blossoming at the site of his greatest triumphs. But what is behind Stefanos Tsitsipas’ sudden top form?

13. April 2024

From: leo

When Stefanos Tsitsipas beat the great Roger Federer at the Australian Open 2019, many experts predicted a glorious future for the Greek with many Grand Slam victories. More than five years have now passed and the 25-year-old still owes a lot. Although he made it to the finals in both Melbourne and the French Open, it wasn’t enough to achieve a big triumph. His CV includes two Masters titles: in 2021 and 2022 he lifted the trophy in the Principality of Monaco.

However, a lot has happened since then: injuries and poor form led to Tsitsipas slipping out of the top 10. The friend of tennis ace Paola Badosa has been waiting to win a title for over a year. There have also been changes in the Southern European’s team in recent months: After he briefly worked with the Australian Mark Philippoussis last summer, his charismatic father Apostolos is now in sole charge again.

A smooth tournament

Before the tournament in Monte Carlo, Tsitsipas had a meager record of eleven wins and six defeats. In his favorite tournament on his preferred surface (76 percent win rate), the Greek now seems to have returned to his old strength: he beat Laslo Djere, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov without losing a set.

Know each other inside out: Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas © APA/afp / PAUL CROCK

In the semi-finals, Sinner will face the ultimate test and an assessment of his position: the two opponents have met eight times in their careers, and the Greek won five times. On clay the score is 3-1 for the man from Athens. However, Sinner goes into the match with a feeling, as he won the last two duels in Rotterdam and at the ATP Finals without losing a set. However, the man from Sexten knows how difficult the task is in Tsitsipas’ living room. It starts in Monte Carlo on Saturday from 1.30 p.m.

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2024-04-13 07:06:00
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