Stefanos Tsitsipas can certainly not be satisfied with the results obtained this season. Its true that the Greek player won his third title in Monte Carlo during the spring, but he could have expected much more from a guy who cant make the ultimate quality jump to very high levels.
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Not only has the champions growth from Athens come to a halt in the last year and a half, but Stefanos seems to have even regressed in certain aspects of his game. Now the opponents know his weaknesses and know how to exploit them, a factor that has helped to remove Tsitsipas from the top positions of the ATP ranking.
On red clay the Greek is still a dangerous player, as shown by the triumph at Monte Carlo and the quarterfinals reached at the French Open. On the other surfaces - instead - Stefanos is far away from the players who currently dominate the ATP tour (like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz).
Even the separation from his father Apostolos seems to have given the right shock 'Tsitsi', who will have to work hard in the off-season. 2025 is likely to be a crucial year for his career, also considering the rise of other young talents such as Ben Shelton, Jack Draper, Alex Michelsen and Jakub Mensik.
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Streak interrupted
The Greek ace played a good tournament at the Rolex Paris Masters reaching the quarterfinals, but was defeated by Alexander Zverev after a fairly balanced match. Due to this loss, it is already certain that Tsitsipas will close the season out of the Top 10 of the ATP ranking by interrupting a streak that lasted since 2019.
The player from Athens will have to start next season as number 11 or 12 in the world and may have a very complicated draw at the 2025 Australian Open. While his tennis results are not brilliant, Stefanos is very happy in his private life thanks to the love story with his colleague Paula Badosa.
In a recent interview with Spanish magazine Hola, the former World No.3 opened up on his relationship with Paula: Its funny, but Paula and I have never met at tournaments. In fact, we only saw each other two or three times before I had the chance to approach her to say hello and introduce myself. I first noticed Paula when I saw her at the Australian Open in 2020, when she was playing on centre court. It was love at first sight and from that day on I was completely mesmerized. I remember thinking to myself that one day we will be together.
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If he does not improve in all respects, the Greek will have a lot of trouble to emerge even in 2025 and his confidence could suffer another blow. The 2025 Australian Open will be very important for him, a tournament that presents conditions very favorable to his style of play.
'Tsitsi' has played almost always well at Melbourne Park, where he reached the final in 2023 only losing to a legend like Novak Djokovic. During a recent interview with Tennis TV, the former World No.3 admitted that he is inspired by Alcaraz to shine again: "I'm observing Carlos Alcaraz; it's like seeing him from that angle is so different to just watching him on TV or any other type of competition. I don't really get to get so close and intimate with another high-tier player as him. He's currently one of the best players in the world. I really want to follow his footsteps, and to get to see him play live and see what kind of patterns, behaviors, and body language he shows on court is definitely something that I try to copy and bring into my own game.
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What's next for Tsitsipas?
At the age of 26, the Greek champion is going through the most delicate moment of his entire career and he doesnt really know why. "I dont know why things have gotten so bad, but for a year or two I havent been the same player as before. Im not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, but I think Ive had some kind of burnout. Im trying to regenerate myself and return the player I was before" - said Tsitsipas in a recent interview.
Stefanos' best results in his career so far have been three Masters 1000 wins (all in Monte Carlo) and a triumph at the Nitto ATP Finals in London in 2019. He also reached two Grand Slam finals, at the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open. Next year will show us what the fate of Tsitsipas will be.
