Stefanos Tsitsipas

[Damian]

Tsitsipas On Facing Nadal: ‘I’m Going To Try To Give My Soul’

Spoiler:

Greek advances to semi-finals with second win of the week
Two years ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas was an alternate in the Next Gen ATP Finals field. Last season, the Greek star triumphed in Milan. And after beating defending champion Alexander Zverev in straight sets on Wednesday, Tsitsipas has guaranteed his spot in the semi-finals of the Nitto ATP Finals.

The 21-year-old loves challenges. And although he has already booked a trip to the last four at The O2 in London, Tsitsipas will get a chance to eliminate World No. 1 Rafael Nadal from the competition on Friday. If the Spaniard falls, he will not have a chance to move into the semi-finals.

“I’m going to give it my all. I'm going to try to give my soul, and I think it's also a very good challenge for me in order to prepare for more difficult matches in the semi-finals and the finals, potentially,” Tsitsipas said. “So this match is going to give me a lot. It's going to educate me, and I'm going to try to get and absorb as much as I can from that.”

Tsitsipas lost the first seven sets of his FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry with Nadal, but the Greek earned his first win against the lefty earlier this year in Madrid, triumphing in three sets. Nadal leads their series 4-1.

But the World No. 6 will take plenty of confidence into their matchup. Tsitsipas, in his Nitto ATP Finals debut, is the only player yet to lose a set. He was in devastating for against Zverev, losing only five games and saving the lone break point he faced.

“I believe I had a good performance today, which is very satisfying to know, that [there were] no signs of any nerves [and that I was] feeling pretty good on the court,” Tsitsipas said. “It was a good performance. It's really good to know that I'll be playing in the semi-finals, but I've got to concentrate, keep going the way I have been doing things the past couple of days.”

Tsitsipas has not shied away from clashes with the best players in the world. With his victory against the German, Tsitsipas is now 7-8 this year against Top 10 opposition.

“I always find an extra motivation, an extra reason to play well against the top guys. I consider Sascha also being of this part of this elite group,” Tsitsipas said. “He has done very well over the years. He has, in a way, inspired me to step it up and be part of the Top 10. So in a way I actually owe him a lot. He plays good tennis. Also playing Rafa, Roger, Novak, Andy — I haven't played Andy, but I think there is plenty to learn from them.

“You have been watching them on TV. You have always wanted to be part of that. So for you, when you step out on the court… it's a visual. When you see something that you have been dreaming of, I think there is always a spark, kind of an extra reason to play.”

The Zverev win was not the only big one for Tsitsipas, though. The three-time ATP Tour champion arrived in London having not beaten Daniil Medvedev in five tries. But he defeated the Russian for the first time on Monday to get his week started on a high note.

“It's very fulfilling and satisfying. It's a big relief when you go through so much pressure and so much will and trying to put yourself into a nirvanic concentration mode. It's not as easy as people think it is,” Tsitsipas said. “It's something that fulfills you when you are able to beat players like this and give your best, give your all. These wins mean more than others, and it's a good thing to have in your portfolio.”

Tsitsipas wouldn’t mind adding a win against Nadal to his Nitto ATP Finals resume either.

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[Damian]

Tsitsipas Defeats Federer To Reach London Final

Spoiler:

Greek one win from the trophy on his tournament debut
Stefanos Tsitsipas earned the biggest win of his career on Saturday, defeating six-time champion Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4 to reach the championship match of the Nitto ATP Finals.
Tsitsipas, like he did when he beat the Swiss at this year’s Australian Open, was sensational when facing break point, saving 11 of 12 break points in the match. And the Greek took advantage of small spurts of unforced errors from Federer to triumph after one hour and 36 minutes.
One year ago, Tsitsipas won the Next Gen ATP Finals. And now, on his tournament debut, the 21-year-old, who is the youngest player in this Nitto ATP Finals field and the first Greek to ever qualify for the event, will battle for the trophy at the season finale against defending champion Alexander Zverev or first-time semi-finalist Dominic Thiem.
It is the third consecutive year in which Federer has fallen in the semi-finals at The O2 against an opponent who had never made it that far in the tournament before. In 2017, David Goffin defeated the Swiss and last year, Alexander Zverev ousted him en route to lifting the trophy.
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In a dramatic, 13-minute final game of the opener, the Greek saved two break points and needed seven set points to close out the opening stanza 6-3 after 44 minutes.
Earlier, Tsitsipas jumped out to a quick lead against Federer. After saving a break point in the opening game of the match, the Greek took advantage of a missed Federer smash in the second game to break serve. At 4-2 Tsitsipas, rallied from 0/40 down to save an additional three break points to take a commanding lead.
Tsitsipas grabbed an early lead in the second set when he broke for a 2-1 lead after four loose errors from the Swiss.
In the next game, Federer could not convert on his second 0/40 advantage on Tsitsipas' serve on the day. The Greek saved the last of those opportunities with an overhead winner. But Federer finally broke through later in the game when Tsitsipas missed a forehand off his back foot well wide.
Tsitsipas did not show any disappointment, striking back in the next game, hitting his 16th winner of the match to take a 3-2 lead. That would be the final break of the match. Tsitsipas faced 15/40 as he tried to serve out the match, saving both of those chances.
Tsitsipas, 21, first broke into the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings only 25 months ago. Now, he will play for his fourth ATP Tour title in his ninth final. The Greek evens his FedEx ATP Head2Head series with Federer at 2-2 following 4-6, 4-6 defeats against the Swiss in the Dubai final and the Basel semi-finals.
Federer, 38, was trying to advance to the Nitto ATP Finals title mach for the 11th time.
The 21-year-old Greek native began the match leading this tournament in service games won (35 of 37, 95%) and Federer followed at 90% (28 of 31 games held). Federer is trying to reach his 11th tournament final and first since 2015 (l. to Djokovic). He won the last of a record six titles in 2011 (d. Tsonga).
Did You Know?
In Federer's two defeats against Tsitsipas, the Swiss went just 1-for-24 on his break point opportunities.
More stories like this in:

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[DUN I LOVE]

Po finałach M-1000 w Kanadzie i Madrycie, teraz w CV pojawia się (co najmniej) finał ATP Finals. Good for the game.

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas On Federer Win: 'I Didn't Crack Under Pressure'

Spoiler:

Tsitsipas will play for the Nitto ATP Finals trophy on his debut
Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first Greek to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. And now, after a straight-sets victory against six-time champion Roger Federer on Saturday, the 21-year-old is one win from becoming the first player from his country to lift the trophy at the season finale.

“I'm really glad I played well, stayed calm,” Tsitsipas said. “It's a great moment not just for me, for everyone else, my country, my team. I'm proud of myself, how hard I fought today, how concentrated I stayed in the break points. Didn't crack under pressure. I was very composed and very mature in my decisions.”

Tsitsipas was happily greeted after the win outside his locker room by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who came to watch his country’s tennis star shine. There were plenty of Greek fans in the crowd at The O2 as well.

“I did hear people yell my name and supporting me in Greek. It's important. It's important for the growth of the sport in our country,” Tsitsipas said. “I enjoy having people from Greece come support me, and I hope they do more often, because that makes me feel closer to playing home, let's say. [It] gives me a tremendous amount of energy.”

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Tsitsipas began the week with five wins against Top 10 opposition this year. He has three victories against the elite group this week alone, and with a fourth, he will lift the biggest trophy of his career.

“This does feel, in a way, like a Grand Slam, because all eyes are here. Everyone knows this event. Everyone who watches tennis knows what the Nitto [ATP] Finals are,” Tsitsipas said. “For me, it's a great new start, great new beginning to be here, playing in the Finals. I would compare it almost as a Grand Slam, for sure, but you have less matches. It's really very difficult to be in that position I am in right now, and it counts a lot.”

You May Also Like: Tsitsipas Defeats Federer To Reach London Final
Tsitsipas faced an opponent in Federer who is as experienced as they come. The 38-year-old Swiss was playing in his 16th semi-final at the Nitto ATP Finals. But the Greek maintained his composure, saving 11 of the 12 break points he faced.

“I don't really see it as a pressure. I mostly see it as a challenge for me. He's up a break point, I see that as a challenge to overcome the difficulty,” Tsitsipas said. “It's something I try to avoid as often as possible, but it is tennis. He plays well. He gives me a really tough time on the court. He gets to his break points because he deserves to be there, but then I managed to stay composed and not think of too much, and just play.”

After winning the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals, Tsitsipas began this season with a bang, reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open. On the way to the last four, Tsitsipas defeated Federer in their first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting. With his win on Saturday, their budding rivalry is now knotted at 2-2. But in Melbourne, Tsitsipas was World No. 15. He will finish 2019 at No. 6.

“I can say I have improved since... I played him at the Australian Open. I have improved. I can see myself more as a grown-up now than then. The difference wasn't really big today. I just feel like despite being close to getting broken many times, he had plenty of break points, I felt like I wasn't serving bad,” Tsitsipas said. “He was returning really well, putting every return back and making me play, which I understood. That made it difficult. Two different Stefanoses from Australia and today.”

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[arti]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas' Father, Apostolos Tsitsipas: A Tennis Coach, By Accident

Spoiler:

Father and coach of Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Federer on Saturday, excels despite his unconventional path into tennis
Based on his childhood, it's far more likely that Apostolos Tsitsipas would be coaching the Greek national football team than the country's global tennis star, his son and World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat six-time champion Roger Federer on Saturday to reach the title match of the Nitto ATP Finals in London.
Apostolos and his brother goofed around on a nearby, self-maintained “grass court” with wooden racquets as kids, but, growing up, Apostolos' sports were football and basketball. He briefly competed on the Greek national football team.
As a sport science major at the University of Athens, he specialised in tennis for reasons that still elude him.
“It was strange because nobody from my background was involved in tennis,” he told ATPTour.com. “But I chose tennis, I don't know why. Actually, that's a good question.”
Rare is the coach of a top player who didn't compete on the ATP Tour or at least collegiately in the U.S. Although they weren't all household names as players, all but three coaches of the eight Nitto ATP Finals qualifiers earned ATP Ranking points during their playing days.
Coaches Of The Top 10 Players In The ATP Rankings
ATP Ranking
Player
Coach(es)
Coaches' Career-High ATP Rankings
1
Rafael Nadal
Carlos Moya/Francisco Roig
1/60
2
Novak Djokovic
Marian Vajda/Goran Ivanisevic
34/2
3
Roger Federer
Ivan Ljubicic/Severin Luthi
3/622
4 Daniil Medvedev Gilles Cervara 0
5
Dominic Thiem
Nicolas Massu
9
6 Stefanos Tsitsipas Apostolos Tsitsipas 0
7
Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev Sr.
175
8
Matteo Berrettini
Vincenzo Santopadre, Umberto Rianna
100/0
The former players turned coaches have been there done that and can offer experience as a top asset. But others, including Apostolos, have shown that playing inside The O2 in front of roaring crowds is not a prerequisite to leading a player into the Top 10.
Apostolos, along with his wife, Ioulia Salnikova, a former Top 200 WTA player, started teaching Stefanos tennis at the age of three. Dad focused on technique – his one-handed backhand, taking the ball early – and Mom on discipline, “Always do your best.”
When Stefanos was 12, Apostolos joined his son as his full-time coach, travelling with him to junior events across the world, and that's where Apostolos remains today, in his son's coaching box, the gray-haired father of four applauding and encouraging his 21-year-old son.
“It's a big honour to have him next to me by my side,” Stefanos said. “I love him. He loves me. We have been together since the age of 12, travelling together. I appreciate that.”
When Apostolos was 20, in his third year at the University of Athens, he had only just decided on tennis as his sport. Three years later, at the age of 23, he played in his first tennis tournament of any kind, the Greek championships.
You May Also Like: Coaches' Corner: Apostolos Tsitsipas A Father & Coach To Stefanos
From there, his tennis coaching took him across the world. Apostolos travelled for two years with loulia on the WTA and studied tennis coaching for three more years in Vienna and Berlin in the early 1990s, during the the golden period of German tennis, when Boris Becker and Steffi Graf were at the top of the men's and women's games.
But his growing family of four required a more stable life, so he accepted a job as a country club teaching pro in Athens. Apostolos, armed with seven years of coaching education and a decade of recreational playing experience, tried to teach more than wins and losses to his players and their families. When the parents would want more wins, he'd ask for more time.
“I was explaining that we can do a lot of things, but we need to consider seriously that it will take us five, six years to develop a young player. But people, they're not really patient enough to wait, to invest money, invest time,” Apostolos said. “You have to develop as an athlete, your body. You have to develop your mind... and you have to develop your technique.”
Years later, however, when Stefanos told his father he was ready to take tennis more seriously, Apostolos finally met a parent he could reason with: himself.
<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/apos ... >Apostolos Tsitsipas</a> and his father <a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/stef ... '>Stefanos Tsitsipas</a> have travelled together since Stefanos was 12
The two have been travelling together for nine years, with Apostolos helping Stefanos climb 76 spots in the ATP Rankings last year (91 to 15). This year, the Greek has completed the Milan to London transition, from winning the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals title to playing in the title match of the 2019 Nitto ATP Finals in London.
Despite guiding his son to unprecedented achievements in Greek tennis history, Apostolos doesn't think of himself as the one making headlines. The father who has led his son every step of his career says that he feels fortunate his son has chosen him.
“With Stefanos, even though I studied so much, I just feel that I know very few things. You need to always be open-minded and ready to learn. Stefanos gave me such a chance to learn,” Apostolos said. “I think he was the best university for me.”
It's a school of thought that can be rare among coaches of any sport, especially those at the top of their game. But, in this case, it sounds about right; it sounds like Apostolos Tsitsipas.

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[Damian]

Thiem & Tsitsipas: From Practice Partners To London Finalists

Spoiler:

Thiem reflects on both of their journeys
Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who will play on Sunday for the Nitto ATP Finals title, have already competed six times in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series (Thiem leads 4-2) and been Laver Cup teammates for Team Europe.
But their relationship began in 2016 in a much more nondescript place – a practice court at The O2. Thiem was making his debut at the Nitto ATP Finals, and Tsitsipas was a baby-faced practice partner, wide-eyed and in awe of the top players on the ATP Tour.
If Tsitsipas thought then, at the age of 18, that he'd be playing in the season finale title match only three years later, that would make him the only 2019 finalist who had such confidence.
“It's amazing story for both of us, because probably both of us, we didn't think that only three years later we were going to face each other in the final,” Thiem said.

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"A little bit more and I'll end up playing with all the players from the ATP World Tour Finals."

This was @StefTsitsipas in 2016 as a hitting partner for @ThiemDomi.

Tomorrow, the two will face off in this year's final

: Stefanos Tsitsipas (IG) | #NittoATPFinals
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The Austrian secured his place in his first Nitto ATP Finals title match with a 7-5, 6-3 win against defending champion Alexander Zverev on Saturday evening. Tsitsipas beat six-time champion Roger Federer 6-3, 6-4 earlier on Saturday.
“He really deserves it. He's a good person. He's a very good player with a very attractive style to watch, so it's good to have him,” Thiem said of Tsitsipas. “We have a great time outside the court. But once we take the step on the court, it's a battle and we forget for two, three hours, our friendships.”
The 26-year-old paid attention to Tsitsipas' level during their practice and was even more impressed last year when they played on the ATP Tour for the first time.
“There I saw and I also felt his amazing potential. Then at the end of the year [2018], already he was No. 14 or 15, and then everybody could see where his direction goes, only up, only in absolute world class,” Thiem said.
You May Also Like: Final Preview: Will Thiem Or Tsitsipas Win Their Biggest Title Yet?
Winning the Nitto ATP Finals title would be the biggest title for either player, and it also would mark a drastic improvement from where each of them finished the season 12 months ago.
Thiem finished 1-2 in group play and did not advance to the semi-finals at the season finale for the third consecutive year. Tsitsipas won the 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan (d. De Minaur).
In fact, before this season, Thiem had won 11 titles but only two on hard court. This year, however, Thiem has won five titles, including three on hard court, and he could add his biggest yet on Sunday.
“I made some little changes through the year, like my forehand, I shortened up the swing a little bit, which helps me, especially on the faster surfaces. And then I also made some little changes at serve and then return,” Thiem said.
“I really hope that I can continue my great level of tennis in 2020, and now I have the feeling that my game is really moving in the right direction.”

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[grzes430]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas' Completes Successful Transition, Lands Nitto ATP Finals Crown

Spoiler:

Youngest season finale titlist since Hewitt in 2001
Stefanos Tsitsipas captured the biggest title of his career on Sunday, making the successful transition from 2018 Next Gen ATP Finals champion to the Nitto ATP Finals crown, 12 months on.
The sixth-seeded Greek defeated fifth seed Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-6(4) over two hours and 35 minutes in the championship match at The O2 in London. At 21 years and three months, Tsitsipas is the youngest Nitto ATP Finals champion since former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt (20) in 2001 in Sydney.
“I have no clue how I played so well in the second set," said Tsitsipas. "I have no idea. I think my mind was at ease and I wasn’t really thinking of much, which led to such a great performance in the second set, breaking him twice,” said Tsitsipas. “I didn’t give him much options to play with in the second set. It was pretty much an excellent set for me.
“It was pretty frustrating for me to be playing with such nerves for the first time in such a big event. I was a break up, I couldn’t manage to hold it. Things were decided in the tie-break and I am so relieved by this outstanding performance and fight that I gave out on the court.
“[The crowd support] is just phenomenal, having such an army behind me while I am on the court. They give me so much energy. They give me belief that I can achieve the things I want to achieve on the court. They motivate me. They just give me so much energy in general and I just love that. I would like to thank every single one [of the fans] who came here to support me today with the Greek flags. They made it feel like home.”

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Your 2019 #NittoATPFinals champion

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This is the fourth straight year that a first-time season finale titlist has been crowned, following in the footsteps of Andy Murray (2016), Grigor Dimitrov (2017) and Alexander Zverev (2018). The last time this happened in the tournament’s history was from 1988-1991 with Boris Becker (1988), Stefan Edberg (1989), Andre Agassi (1990) and Pete Sampras (1991) winning the title.
Tsitsipas, who earned $2,656,000 in prize money and 1,300 ATP Rankings points in five matches this week, is also the first player since David Nalbandian in 2005 to recover from losing the opening set and claim the title. Fourteen years ago, Nalbandian recovered from two sets down against Roger Federer to win the five-set 2005 final in Shanghai.
“It’s been a rollercoaster," said Tsitsipas. "Holding this trophy right now feels amazing… This tournament has been unbelievable guys, you made it so, so emotional. I have never received so much support in a stage like that, ever. Honestly, I owe it all to you, most of it to you. Overall, the atmosphere this week was unbelievable.”
The 21-year-old Tsitsipas adds the Nitto ATP Finals crown to titles at the Open 13 Provence in Marseille (d. Kukushkin) in February and also at the Millennium EstoriLOpen (d. Cuevas). He was also runner-up at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (l. to Federer) in February, the Mutua Madrid Open (l. to Djokovic) and in Beijing. He ends the season with a 54-25 record, having gone 4-1 during the week at The O2 in London.

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In the opening exchanges, both players engaged in long rallies, but showed willingness to attack the net on the fast indoor court. Tsitsipas came close to the first breakthrough, but Thiem struck a powerful backhand at 1-2, 30/40.
As rallies began to get drawn out, Thiem began to make inroads, but Tsitsipas – who saved 11 of 12 break points in his semi-final win over Roger Federer on Saturday – held firm in the seventh game, saving two break points with gutsy net play for a 4-3 advantage. Thiem then recovered from 15/40, with an ace and a forehand volley winner on the stretch to level the scoreline.
In an inevitable tie-break, Thiem stepped up, ripping through his forehands and attacking the net to keep Tsitsipas behind the baseline. Soon, the Austrian had a 3/0 lead, but Tsitsipas’ serve held up and he recovered to 5/5. Tsitsipas saved a set point at 5/6 by approaching the net for a volley and smash winner, but Thiem clinched his second set point with a powerful serve that Tsitsipas returned into the net.
Tsitsipas was undeterred. The youngest finalist since Juan Martin del Potro (21) in 2009 (l. to Davydenko), regrouped and was handed the first game of the second set by Thiem, who mis-hit a forehand, and later moved to a double-break advantage after hitting volley and forehand winners. Clean ball striking — 10 winners to one unforced errors — from Tsitsipas meant that their seventh FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting was decided by a third set. Last month, Thiem beat Tsitsipas 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the China Open final in Beijing.
Having saved two break points in the first game of the decider, Thiem came under pressure once again at 1-1, but as the Austrian’s backhand faltered, Tsitsipas carried the momentum to a 3-1 advantage. Thiem immediately bounced back to win three straight games, but in the deciding set tie-break — the first since 2005 — Tsitsipas surged to a 4/0 lead. While Thiem recovered to 4/4, he later hit a forehand into the net at 5/6. Tsitsipas didn’t need a second invitation to close out the biggest victory of his career. The Greek hit nine aces and won 50 of 60 first-service points.
It was the fourth time in 50 editions of the Nitto ATP Finals that a title match was decided on a final-set tie-break (also 1988, 1995 and 2005).
During the trophy presentation ceremony, Tsitsipas praised Thiem, saying: “[Dominic], you have been an inspiration. Not just for me, but for many other players around the world I am sure and for the people that come to watch,. It is truly magnificent, this fight we put out today on this court. I think it makes our sport great. Tennis is all about this.”
The 26-year-old Thiem, who’d been aiming to capture an ATP Tour-best sixth trophy of 2019, will finish at a year-end No. 4 in the ATP Rankings and with a 49-19 match record. He went 3-2 this week at The O2 in London and earn $1,302,000 in prize money and 800 ATP Rankings points.

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[arti]

[arti]

[Damian]

Tsitsipas: From Milan To London, The Emotions Of A Dream Come True

Spoiler:

Greek reflects on triumphing at the Nitto ATP Finals
Two years ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas was on the outside looking in on the inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals, only making Milan as an alternate. Last year, the Greek captured the title at that event. But while he was excited to lift the trophy, he wanted to improve even more.

“ refresh and come to enter into 2019 stronger and better, just a better Stefanos than 2018,” Tsitsipas said.

‘Better’ understates how the 21-year-old performed this season. Tsitsipas capped off a tremendous 2019 with the biggest title of his career on Sunday, triumphing at the Nitto ATP Finals.

“I came with a lot of confidence in the [2018] Next Gen ATP Finals knowing I'm one of the best and I can do really well. Left with the trophy. Felt unbelievably excited for the new season because I beat he youngest generation of players. I think that gave me a tremendous amount of boost,” Tsitsipas said. “Fresh blood, they are always fighting more and they are new to the game, so for me that was a great first look of how things work and operate in the Masters circle. It's a great combo, isn't it?”

Tsitsipas has said on several occasions that he dreamt of competing in the Nitto ATP Finals against the best players in the world. After defeating then-World No.1 Novak Djokovic at the Rolex Shanghai Masters last month, a reporter told the Greek that he had booked his spot at The O2. His reaction was priceless.

“No way! Really? I didn’t know that!” Tsitsipas said, with a smile as bright as his game.

“Firstly, I was excited to be part of the Nitto ATP Finals experience. For me, it was already a big thing,” Tsitsipas said after defeating Dominic Thiem in Sunday’s final. “Now that I'm a champion, I don't know how to explain it. I honestly don't feel anything, because it's too many emotions to feel something.

“I remember myself watching this event on TV and thinking, ‘Oh, these guys have done an insane year to be playing here.’ And now I'm in the position to be champion, so it feels awesome.”

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/stef ... '>Stefanos Tsitsipas</a>

It’s fitting that Tsitsipas’ championship win came against Thiem, with whom he practised at this event three years ago, when he was the junior World No. 1. A photo of the two from after one of their hits that week resurfaced before Sunday’s final.

“That is unbelievable. I just remembered, yeah. First time I met Dominic was [when] I came here as a sparring partner, was No. 1-ranked in the junior rankings. I got invited by the ITF to come and be a sparring partner here in the Finals,” Tsitsipas said. “I think my first hit was with Dominic. It's unbelievable, isn't it? We [were] now facing each other in the final. It's great. It's fantastic. I met him for the first time. I think that year he didn't do very well, but he kept coming every single year, which is a tremendous amount of respect from me for what he's been achieving all these years.”

Tsitsipas’ success on big stages has not been a stunner this year. Even before triumphing in Milan last season, he advanced to his first ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto. But he has climbed even higher this season, earning nine wins against Top 10 opposition, including four this week.

“I feel like my game is getting better over time, and I believe I'm really close on being crowned a Grand Slam champion. I know these are strong words that I say, but I do feel like I belong to be there,” Tsitsipas said. “I'm competing against one of the best players in the world, and the amount of effort and the amount of work I put every day deserves to have an outcome like this.”

The four-time ATP Tour titlist and year-end World No. 6 will have more eyes on him than ever after his memorable run at The O2. Last year, after winning the Next Gen ATP Finals, he reached his first Grand Slam semi-final just two months later at the Australian Open. There will be high expectations for Tsitsipas in 2020, but the Greek has not succeeded by looking too far ahead.

“I wish I could predict the future. I cannot predict the future. You think I could predict that I would be in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, first Grand Slam of the year? I was thinking that it might happen later... [it] came completely unexpected for me,” Tsitsipas said. “The thing is, if I put myself in a state of mind that I need to win this Grand Slam now, it doesn't work this way. Rafa said it in the past: I'm not playing to win the tournament, I'm playing to win every single match that I'm about to go and play.

“So that's how it works. You don't want to travel too much in the future when you play a tournament, because it's not always going to go the way you want it to go.”

But at this year's Nitto ATP Finals, it couldn't have gone any better.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/tsitsip ... l-reaction

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