Tsitsipas: ‘A Celebration Of The Best Of The Best In Our Sport’

Stefanos Tsitsipas has fond memories at the Nitto ATP Finals, where has has been a constant presence dating back to his triumphant 2019 debut in London. The Greek has not missed the season finale since he claimed the title that season, and his sixth-place position in this year’s Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin earned him his fifth appearance at the prestigious event.

His road to Turin this season included a run to the Australian Open final and a milestone 10th tour-level title in Los Cabos, as well as a runner-up finish in Barcelona. As he looks forward to this year’s pageantry in Italy, Tsitsipas is hungry for another deep run.

“It’s a whole celebration. The ATP Finals is a commemoration and celebration of the best of the best in our sport,” Tsitsipas said. “We all gather together and we get to play against each other and focus on the fact that we are the best in the world trying to fight for this mega trophy, which is a grand prize in our sport. It means a lot.”

The coming together of so many great champions makes for a memorable week both on and off the court. But the pride of being among the elite group is paired with the challenge of competing against them.

Having emerged from the gauntlet as the last man standing before, Tsitsipas knows first-hand what it means to claim what he considers the season’s ultimate title.

“I would consider it probably a bigger thing than a Slam, honestly,” he said. “It has big prestige and it’s a very valuable asset if you’re able to conquer and win it.”

The 25-year-old has not advanced beyond the group stage since winning the 2019 crown, but a late-season surge has set him up for success this year. Tsitsipas struggled following his Los Cabos title in August, failing to win multiple singles matches at his next five events. Then came Antwerp.   

The Greek reached the singles semis at the ATP 250, but it was his doubles success with brother Petros Tsitsipas that really changed the vibes around his game. The unseeded duo won its first tour-level title together, winning Match Tie-breaks in the semi-finals and final for an emotional triumph—watched by their parents.

“I did get a good kick out of the doubles. And it transcended into my singles, absolutely,” Tsitsipas said of that inflection point, adding that his girlfriend, WTA star Paula Badosa, has been serving as an unofficial doubles coach.

“Victories like this give you so much confidence and so much faith and belief in how good you can play and how good you can feel on court when you play good, and you aim and strive to play good. So these types of experiences and these type of titles elevate you, and they bring you really to your highest point.”

Tsitsipas followed Antwerp with a second consecutive singles semi-final in Vienna, his first at the ATP 500 and another semi-final showing the Rolex Paris Masters, where he lost a third-set tie-break to Grigor Dimitrov.

“It’s important that I’m able to stabilise myself and be able to consistently go on deep runs in tournaments,” Tsitsipas said of his return to form. “I might not win all of them, but for me it’s important to just be able to repetitively make semis, finals or even win on a consistent basis. So I’m keeping a positive outlook on all of this, and I’m hoping to continue this kind of streak.”

That streak will now be put on the line at the season’s toughest test in Turin, where champions become champion.