Tsitsipas: Post-Match Reaction – Australian Open 2024

Stefanos Tsitsipas He didn’t have a placid or convincing debut, but he managed to pull it off. After falling last year in the first round of the Open the Australiathe Greek did not want the same ghosts to appear that made him have a 2025 to forget. But he showed patience and spirit to turn the score around in a match made in fits and starts against Shintaro Mochizuki.

The Greek took the victory 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2and in the press conference after his victory he spoke about the difficult moments he had to overcome and what he enjoys when he finds himself in one of them. In addition to ratifying his love for tennis and his intention to continue playing this sport for many years, all from his philosophical perspective.

Stefanos Tsitsipas analyzed his hard-fought victory in his debut at the Australian Open

“I tried, so to speak, to ‘lock myself in’ in a small mental window and build points from there, looking at what I could do better. I think my opponent was very consistent: he kept the same intensity, he didn’t change the pace too much. He played with a very stable cadence throughout the match and there wasn’t anything concrete that he did radically different.”

“There were aspects that I did not expect from a player of his level and with his physique: for example, he did not go up to the net as much as I imagined, although when he did it worked quite well for him. He had the courage to come forward, rely on his best point construction, use the backhand, close with the volley and build from that idea.”

He was aggressive from the beginning

“I was much more aggressive today than in our previous match in Perth. I think I had no other option. Surely he also had in mind that I should play more offensively than the previous time. Personally, I feel that I have important weapons: forehand, serve and backhand. When I place my feet well I can create opportunities for myself.”

“The question was when and how to use them in the right way. There were times when I rushed, or when he confused me with some of his plays and didn’t let me build my way.”

He smiles as he remembers his victory against Roger Federer at the 2019 Australian Open

“I feel lucky to have the opportunity to continue doing what I like today. I have gone through many stages in tennis: precious and incredible moments, and others that have sunk me, that have destroyed me. But my love for tennis has always been special. There is nothing that has filled me with so many beautiful memories and so many emotions as this sport that I chose. All of this is beautiful; the entire journey is beautiful.”

“Being able to play on the center court, the Rod Laver, seven years ago was a dream of a lifetime. Winning was another dream of a lifetime. It was one of the most magical nights of my life, having overcome that obstacle called Roger Federer. That night it was difficult for me to sleep. And the best thing is that, when I remember it, I get a smile: it is one of those memories that simply forces you to smile.”

He wants to continue playing the sport of his life for many years

“I hope to also build other great moments throughout my career. I think I still have room to do many more things with my tennis. There were years in which I was not where I expected to be, but it is never too late. Every year gives you a new possibility. I hope I can play until I am 40 and have many opportunities and many tournaments to show what I want to show.”

He explained his constant anger during the duel

“I realized that I was too angry; I’m not used to being like that during a match. But I felt that the only way to release that tension was to do it that way. I wanted something like a ‘looser discipline’, let’s call it that: not a rigid, closed, single discipline. I wanted to give myself a little more leeway within my discipline, and the only way to get it out was with that attitude. It helped me, for sure. I am aware that, psychologically, perhaps it is not the most “correct” thing to show myself like that, but I wanted to doing it because I thought it was going to help me.

“The most important thing for me is to be able to play matches like this, at this level, and enjoy it; even enjoy the difficulty of the match. It is one of the greatest privileges a tennis player can have. The results are beautiful, yes, but being able to enjoy tennis through the challenge that different rivals pose, measuring yourself against players from all over the world, is one of the most beautiful things this sport has. And being able to experience it also in difficult moments, shouting, complaining, feeling everything intensely, with all your emotions, is an enormous privilege. “This is how I want to live it from now on.”

His goal in this Australian Open is…

“I want to see myself playing good tennis, that is the most important thing. It depends on the opponent. In each Grand Slam no one enters with the perfect path; it is a magical journey. For me, living it to the fullest means being able to play my tennis, enjoy it, accept the difficulty of looking for solutions against each type of rival, find that small gap through which to sneak in, and from that minimal margin impose your game with your strength and solve that puzzle. That is the most beautiful thing about our sport. My goal for this tournament is to enjoy tennis and find as many solutions as I can against each rival. which, I hope, I will have to face during these two weeks,” stated a Stefanos Tsitsipas that started off on the right foot Open the Australia 2026.