Tstisipas: ‘I Plan To Push Boundaries’

To stay at the top of the ATP Tour, you need to be able to adapt and develop. With new stars emerging and a range of styles being implemented, the Tour provides numerous tests.

For Stefanos Tsitsipas, who will star in season one of Netflix’s Break Point, the desire to improve is constant.

“I really plan to push boundaries and try and improve, even during games. [I am] aggressive, slightly creative. I am never really satisfied by doing the same thing over and over again,” Tsitsipas told ATP Uncovered in 2022. “I was trying to find new creative ways to perform certain tasks and play in any condition.”

The Greek has continued to adapt, winning titles every season since he captured his maiden crown in 2018. The ability to stay mentally strong and trust his game in crucial moments has been key to his success, with Tsitsipas highlighting this when reflecting on his title run at the Nitto ATP Finals in 2019.

“Serving at 6/4 at the Nitto ATP Finals in London in the tie-break, I think I missed my first serve by very few centimetres. I go for an unpredictable second serve towards Dominic’s forehand. I felt it was the right thing to do, it was kind of instinct. Do the opposite of what he would have expected in such a crucial important moment,” Tsitsipas said.

“I just need to stay alive as much as possible. I need to be in that moment, I need to slow down time. That is something that goes through my head. If I am able to slow time down then see and predict and execute. I guess that is what adrenaline does to you. It kind of makes everything move so far and in such a great flow without thinking sometimes.”

Having triumphed in London, Tsitsipas captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Monte Carlo in 2021. The Greek struggled to add to his trophy tally in 2021, winning just one more title that year before he successfully defended his Monte Carlo trophy in 2022.

The Greek revealed that controlling his own thoughts have been key in him being able to bounce back.

“Having faced those moments in a traumatic way where you’re not able to respond and find ways and fight back and sometimes even win,” Tsitsipas said. “That is when it really kind of gets tough to manage those thoughts once this moment reaches during a match.

“Having to deal with those emotions. Having to deal with your own thoughts. I would say that it’s only you. External pressure in a way that is out of your control. Internally you are in full ownership and control of that.”