Stefanos Tsitsipas

[Kamileki]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

A Win & A Donation For The Tsitsipas Brothers

Spoiler:

Kontinen/Roger-Vasselin upset top seeds
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Petros Tsitsipas earned a win in more ways than one on Wednesday in Rotterdam.

The Greek brothers defeated last week’s Singapore Tennis Open champions, Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the second round of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. The victory doesn’t just send them to the second round, though. It benefits children.

After winning his singles match against Egor Gerasimov on Tuesday, Stefanos said that for each tour-level doubles match he wins with his brother, he will donate 3,000 euros to Mazi gia to Paidi (Together For Children), whose mission is, “to provide immediate and effective support to children, families, and individuals with disabilities who are in need”.

How To Watch

“That’s for a great cause and also winning, it’s a great thing. The more we win, I really don’t have a problem donating,” Stefanos said on Tuesday. “I donate anyway, but I think that’s an extra reason to push ourselves to want to do better.”

This was the brothers’ first tour-level win together. Entering the match, Stefanos had lost 16 of his past 17 doubles matches, with his one victory coming at the ATP Cup, when Greece’s Spanish opponents retired after one game.

There were two upsets elsewhere in the draw. The Tsitsipas brothers’ next opponents, Henri Kontinen and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, a first-year duo, defeated top seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah 4-6, 6-3, 11-9. The Finnish-French team saved two match points to oust the Colombians.

In a quarter-final clash, Frenchmen Jeremy Chardy and Fabrice Martin eliminated third seeds Wesley Koolhof and Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-3. Chardy and Martin saved the three break points they faced.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... -wednesday

[Damian]

Tsitsipas Survives Hurkacz Battle In Rotterdam

Spoiler:

Greek to face Khachanov in the quarter-finals
Stefanos Tsitsipas kept alive his hopes of a maiden ATP 500 title on Thursday, as he outlasted Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

The second seed, who faced just one break point, broke late in the first and third sets to advance after two hours and seven minutes. Tsitsipas improved to 8-1 this year with his win over Hurkacz.

“I played really well. Both of us, we played a high [level] of tennis and didn’t give [away] many break-point opportunities," Tsitsipas said in an on-court interview. "[There were] pretty good serves from both sides and I am really glad that I fought so hard towards the very end. It was exhausting, but it paid off.”

How To Watch

Tsitsipas’ victory extended his impressive ATP Head2Head record against the Delray Beach champion to 6-1, but the Greek’s rivalry with Hurkacz has been far from one-sided. The pair’s five most recent matches have required a deciding set.

“Hubert is a very tough competitor. We have played loads in the past,” said Tsitsipas. “Every single time I go out on the court, I know what to expect. He is a fighter and he doesn’t like to give up, so it always makes him a very difficult opponent.”

In a first set dominated by serve, Tsitsipas lured Hurkacz to the net and extracted errors to earn three set points at 5-4. The Greek moved up the court and struck an overhead winner to convert his first opportunity after 39 minutes. The second set followed the same pattern, with just one break point deciding the outcome of the set. At 3-3, Hurkacz played with depth and claimed his only break of the match with a powerful cross-court backhand winner.


Serving first in the decider, Tsitsipas applied scoreboard pressure with confident service holds. The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion failed to convert his first two match points on return, but he ripped a backhand passing shot up the line to earn his third chance at 6-5, deuce. Tsitsipas moved to the net and pressured his opponent into a forehand error to claim victory.

Tsitsipas will face Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals. The World No. 21 booked his spot in the last eight with a 6-2, 6-2 victory against Cameron Norrie on Wednesday. Tsitsipas owns a 2-0 ATP Head2Head record against Khachanov, with wins against the Russian at the 2017 and 2018 Rolex Shanghai Masters.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... 1-thursday

[Damian]

Tsitsipas: 'There's A Different Feeling When You Give Your Soul On The Court'

Spoiler:

The Greek star will play Khachanov in the Rotterdam quarter-finals
At the end of Stefanos Tsitsipas’ three-set battle against Hubert Hurkacz on Thursday at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, there were no fans urging on the players due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But that didn’t mean the cavernous setting was devoid of sound.

“Come on! Come on!” Tsitsipas screamed after earning his third match point.

“Yes! Come on!” the Greek star roared after clinching the match on the next point.

Those words echoed throughout the arena as Tsitsipas celebrated a hard-fought victory against the Polish No. 1 after more than two hours. While the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion has become known for his dynamic game and powerful strokes, the 22-year-old has another weapon: his fighting spirit.

“I take more pride in that than winning effortless matches,” Tsitsipas said. “Effortless matches are great for energy consumption, but there is a different feeling when you fight so hard and you give your soul out on the court, when you manage to win a match under these conditions.

“It might also add a little bit of confidence to your game.”


The way Tsitsipas describes it, getting into a zone creates a unique feeling as a tennis player. All he sees is a small “centre of attention”. The Greek is fully concentrated on the tennis ball.

“The rest is just blurry. You are in the moment,” Tsitsipas said. “That’s probably the best feeling in tennis, when you’re 100 per cent there and every point counts… you don’t get very often matches that you are so zoned in, and today [that] was the case.”

Players leaving that zone and losing their concentration, even for a few points, could prove costly in matches. That’s why Tsitsipas enjoys finding that mental space.

“Nothing else matters, it’s just that ball that comes to you that is the centre of attention,” Tsitsipas said. “The more you want it during a match, and also [having] the ability to concentrate for so long, creates something like this. I love moments like this when I can be fully present and feel like I want to thrive.”

You May Also Like: Tsitsipas Survives Hurkacz Battle In Rotterdam
Tsitsipas tries to bring that competitive edge to the practice court, too. The Greek enjoys the grind of trying to get better every day.

“It can get difficult at times. I’m expecting a lot from myself and I’m hard on myself during practice, during matches,” Tsitsipas said. “There are certain moments where it’s just not easy. There’s a lot of frustration. But I think hard work is the only way to do things and succeed in your occupation.”

Tsitsipas has read Andre Agassi’s book, Open, and met the former World No. 1 when he coached Novak Djokovic. The World No. 6 takes inspiration from something the American legend once said.

How To Watch

“In tennis and in any other sport generally, if you don’t work hard, as Andre Agassi said, ‘Those who don’t practise don’t deserve to win,’” Tsitsipas said. “I completely stand by that. I think practice makes perfect.

“I would like to add smart work and work that’s accurate, focussing on the things that matter is also very important, especially at these levels. We’ve worked a lot to get here, but there’s this smart work that makes a whole lot of difference among us.”

Tsitsipas will continue to pursue his first ATP Tour title of the season on Friday when he plays big-hitting Russian Karen Khachanov in the quarter-finals. It’s safe to say he will bring his competitive edge to the court.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... ay-feature

[Kamileki]

[Barty]

Hubert Hurkacz znów sprawił kłopoty Stefanosowi Tsitsipasowi. "To bardzo twardy przeciwnik"

Spoiler:

Choć w czwartek Stefanos Tsitsipas pokonał Huberta Hurkacza szósty raz w ich siódmym pojedynku w głównym cyklu, po meczu podkreślił, że Polak znów sprawił mu trudności. - Hubert to bardzo twardy przeciwnik - powiedział Grek.
Marcin Motyka

Stefanos Tsitsipas nie miał łatwej przeprawy w II rundzie turnieju ATP 500 w Rotterdamie. Szósty tenisista świata i półfinalista niedawnego Australian Open potrzebował dwóch godzin i siedmiu minut, aby pokonać 6:4, 4:6, 7:5 Huberta Hurkacza.
- Obaj graliśmy na bardzo wysokim poziomie. Całkiem nieźle serwowaliśmy, przez co nie daliśmy wielu szans na przełamanie - mówił po meczu tenisista z Aten, cytowany przez atptour.com.

Grek podkreślił, że mecz kosztował go wiele wysiłku. - Jestem bardzo zadowolony, że tak mocno walczyłem do samego końca. To było wyczerpujące, ale opłaciło się.

Hurkacz jest niewygodnym rywalem dla Tsitsipasa. Wprawdzie Grek pokonał Polaka szósty raz w siódmej konfrontacji w głównym cyklu (uwzględniając wszystkie rozgrywki bilans wynosi 7-1 dla Greka), lecz ich starcia są bardzo wyrównane. W czwartek rozegrali piąty z rzędu pojedynek na pełnym dystansie setów.

- Hubert to bardzo twardy przeciwnik - zaznaczył Tsitsipas. - Jest wojownikiem i nie lubi się poddawać, a to sprawia, że zawsze jest bardzo trudnym rywalem.


W ćwierćfinale ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, w piątek, rozstawiony z numerem drugim Tsitsipas zmierzy się z Rosjaninem Karenem Chaczanowem.

https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/tenis/92716 ... -twardy-pr

[Damian]

Tsitsipas Battles Back To Beat Khachanov In Rotterdam

Spoiler:

World No. 6 to play Rublev on Saturday
Stefanos Tsitsipas came within a point of a 1-4 deficit in the third set, but battled back to beat Karen Khachanov on Friday for a place in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament semi-finals.

Second seed Tsitsipas improved his perfect record to 3-0 against Khachanov in their ATP Head2Head series after a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory at the Rotterdam Ahoy over two hours and 42 minutes.

"He was playing great tennis and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to compete," said Tsitsipas. "I had an amazing 5-0 lead in the second set and that brought a lot of confidence into my game. We had great rallies and the quality of tennis was excellent. You need to stay as calm as possible in three-setters. I have won a lot in the past and with experience, it gives me an idea of how to play in these tight moments."

The 22-year-old Greek star, who hit 28 of 46 winners off his forehand wing, will next play fourth-seeded Russian Andrey Rublev in Saturday’s semi-finals. Tsitsipas leads Rublev 3-2 in their ATP Head2Head series, with three matches coming last year in Hamburg, Roland Garros and at the Nitto ATP Finals.

How To Watch

Tsitsipas started brightly, but Khachanov bounced back from a 0-2 deficit with a high level of tennis. The Russian secured the 46-minute opener after Tsitsipas hit a forehand into the net.

Tsitsipas hit 17 winners in the second set, rushing out to a 5-0 advantage after the Greek tightened up his serve. Khachanov had three points for a 4-1 lead in the third set only to see Tsitsipas recover.

Tsitsipas clawed his way back and his forehand did the damage to break Khachanov at 5-5 in the decider en route to his ninth win in 10 matches this season.

Tsitsipas will return to the court later on Friday to partner his brother, Petros Tsitsipas, in their doubles quarter-final against Henri Kontinen and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.

Khachanov is now 7-3 on the 2021 season, having advanced last month to the Great Ocean Road Open semi-finals (l. to Sinner) and the Australian Open third round (l. to Berrettini).

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... 021-friday

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Kamileki]

Tsitsipas Tries For Triple: For the past two years, Stefanos Tsitsipas has dominated the courts in Marseille and he returns with his sights set on a hat-trick of trophies. The Greek claimed eight straight wins — and 16 consecutive sets — to clinch the 2019 and 2020 crowns.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/doha-ma ... ing-report

[Damian]

Tsitsipas Begins March Towards Marseille Three-Peat

Spoiler:

The Greek will next face Frenchman Herbert
Stefanos Tsitsipas has won back-to-back titles in Marseille. On Thursday, the Greek star made a good start towards securing a three-peat.

Tsitsipas defeated former World No. 10 Lucas Pouille 6-2, 6-3 in 64 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the Open 13 Provence.

“I figured [the tactics] out from early on and brought the top of my game,” Tsitsipas said in his on-court interview. “ haven’t played Lucas in a long time. Last time we practised in Australia [in 2019 and] I remember that year we both [made] the semis… It’s very unfortunate for him that he was injured for a long time. I think he deserves to be playing at the highest stage and his game has proved itself many times in the past.

“I knew going into the match that I was expecting difficulties. He has experience on the Tour, he has played great players, had great victories. I was dealing with a player with experience and a player who reads the game pretty well and knows his strengths.”

How To Watch

The second seed broke Pouille’s serve four times to take a 2-0 lead in their ATP Head2Head series. Tsitsipas won 86 per cent of his first-serve points and never found himself in trouble against the Frenchman, who had right elbow surgery last July. This was Pouille’s third tour-level match since Shanghai in October 2019.

“I’ve been playing well, I’ve been feeling well on court. I think for him it’s not easy. He hasn’t played a lot of matches and it’s difficult to find your steps and adjust straight away, especially playing players in the Top 10, it’s not easy,” Tsitsipas said. “[I’m] just trying to stay humble, it doesn’t matter where I’m standing in the [FedEx] ATP Rankings. Every opponent is a serious task. Each one of them has played matches in the past against top players and it’s rare that you find players without experience playing at this level.”

Tsitsipas will next play another home favourite in Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who beat Brit Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4. Herbert also ousted former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori in straight sets in the first round. He will take confidence from winning his only previous ATP Head2Head match against the Greek in Shenzhen three years ago.

“I’ve played Pierre in the past. He has a very difficult game. He comes to the net, serves pretty well,” Tsitsipas said. “I’m expecting a different style than the one I got today. He will be very aggressive. I think that’s something that I have to expect and he goes for his shots.”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... 1-thursday

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas On Federer's Return: It Brings Joy To The Players

Spoiler:

The Swiss star returned after more than 13 months away due to injury
Fans weren’t the only ones with their eyes on Roger Federer’s return this week. Players paid careful attention, too.

The 103-time tour-level champion lost in the quarter-finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Thursday evening, but his colleagues are happy to have him back on the ATP Tour, win or lose.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is trying to win his third consecutive Open 13 Provence title in Marseille. Although the Greek star is focussed on his pursuit of a three-peat at the ATP 250, he enjoyed seeing Federer back in action this week.

“He played well, although he lost,” Tsitsipas said. “I think for him it’s important to get a few more matches. Eventually I feel like he is going to get back on his feet and find his way, follow through. It just takes a few matches more, but I’m really happy for him that he’s back. It brings not just joy to the tennis community, but to the tennis players, too.”

You May Also Like: Federer: 'It's A Really, Really Positive Return'
Tsitsipas was five when Federer reached the top of the FedEx ATP Rankings for the first time in February 2004. The 22-year-old takes motivation from seeing the Swiss star still competing at 39.

“Roger is also a source of inspiration,” Tsitsipas said. “I think it helps also with many aspects of my game. It’s nice seeing him play so I can kind of compare, although I’ll never be able to reach his level. But I still feel it’s something that I can look up to and admire, which is really nice.”

On the other side of the world, at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open in Santiago, the players paid close attention to Federer's return.


Holger Rune, the 17-year-old junior World No. 1 who is into the quarter-finals in Santiago, watched the Swiss during his own breakout week.

“I really enjoy watching Roger because he’s so elegant on the court. I love his forehand and his net approach,” Rune said. “Even though my mom said, ‘Don’t watch tennis before your match’, I couldn’t [do that]. It was his first match after 14 months, so I had to watch!”

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/federer ... -doha-2021

[Damian]

[Kamileki]

Stefanos The Top Seed: Tsitsipas will make his tournament debut at this ATP 500. The Greek star is off to a strong 10-3 start to 2021, including a run to the Australian Open semi-finals. Tsitsipas will begin his run against Frenchman Benoit Paire, against whom he owns a 1-1 ATP Head2Head record.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/acapulc ... ing-report

[Bombardiero]

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas: 'Mexico Is Where It All Started For Me'

Spoiler:

The top seed is competing in Acapulco for the first time
Stefanos Tsitsipas first visited Mexico towards the end of 2014 for back-to-back junior tournaments. It was the first tournament trip during which his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, travelled with him as his full-time coach. A few weeks later, Tsitsipas won the prestigious Orange Bowl, and the Greek has been on the rise ever since.

“That was my first elevation in tennis. Mexico is pretty much the place where it all started for me, chasing the dream,” Tsitsipas said. “I feel like Mexicans share a lot of common things with Greeks and I can see that from people and the food and the culture. There are many similarities and I really like Mexican people. They treat me really well and they’re very hard-working and humble and very ethical in many ways.”


Tsitsipas is back in Mexico this week to make his debut at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, an ATP 500 event. The players are not allowed to enjoy the beach and various water activities like they usually can in Acapulco, but Tsitsipas is happy to be able to see a stunning view of the water from his hotel room.

“It is definitely something refreshing and nourishing to have this. I feel much more energised, I feel much better being exposed to the sun and finally getting a tan, which I wasn’t given the opportunity [to do in] the past couple of weeks,” Tsitsipas said. “It’s a very nice setup and a very nice location for tennis.”

There are nine 23-and-under players in the Acapulco draw, with three more competing in the final round of qualifying Monday. Tsitsipas, the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals champion, is excited to be part of this young group of rising stars surging towards the top of the sport.

“I think that being part of the top three era is a great experience. The things that they have achieved is a great example for the younger generation to show what we can achieve as players and athletes on the ATP Tour,” Tsitsipas said. “We have players like Zverev, we have player players like Shapovalov, we have players like De Minaur, Tiafoe, Auger-Aliassime, so many great players that offer different kinds of personalities and charisma, I think. We’re going to have amazing battles against one another in the future, and I’m sure many of us will come close to Grand Slam opportunities and Masters 1000 opportunities.

“That’s what makes our sport so exciting in the future, to see all these different personas and all these different variations of players come out and promote the sport, elevate the sport in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

You May Also Like: Scouting Report: Tsitsipas Tops Acapulco Draw, Thiem Chases Dubai Glory
Tsitsipas, who will begin his Acapulco run against Benoit Paire, is off to a 10-3 start in 2021. The Greek star, No. 5 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, reached his second consecutive Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open. The 22-year-old is pushing to break through that barrier at the biggest events. The 2019 Nitto ATP Finals champion is pursuing his first major trophy and ATP Masters 1000 crown.

“I’m really close. I think what lacks when it comes to my performance in order to make a [Grand Slam] final is probably a little bit more experience. I just think I need a little bit more confidence when I face these players,” Tsitsipas said. “I see no reason to not keep trying and make it again to a Grand Slam semi-final and learn from my previous experiences and take my chances and go for it without fear. I don’t have to overthink it.”

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