Recently crowned ATP Finals champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in one of only two players who have the mentality to win numerous grand slam titles in the future, according to Marcos Baghdatis.
The former Australian Open finalist has lent his support behind the Greek after what has been a solid season for him. Tsitsipas is currently ranked sixth in the world, which is one place below his career best. He has won three out of his four career titles this season. Besides the ATP Finals, he also triumphed in Estoril and Marseille. Despite his young age, Tsitsipas is already his country’s highest ranked player of all time and the first to contest a grand slam semi-final on the men’s tour.
Speaking about the 21-year-old during an interview with The Tennis Podcast, Baghdatis has compared him to Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. Both of whom Tsitsipas has beaten twice so far in his career.
“He doesn’t think like us. I see a bit of Roger in him, in his game, in his mind, on the court in the way he analyses the matches. Not a lot of players can come out of a match and analyse so well. That’s a very strong advantage that he has.” The Telegraph quoted Baghdatis as saying.
“He has a complete game. He has very small things to improve – his slice a bit and his return. But his self-discipline and determination, he’s at the level of Djokovic for me, and at a very young age. I think he’s the only one, with Thiem, that has the mentality to keep on winning slams throughout the years.”
Tsitsipas will get a chance to remind some of his rivals on the tour how much of a threat he is at this week’s Mubadala World Tennis Championship. Where he could play Djokovic in the semi-finals if he wins his first match. Earlier this week the Greek outlined the areas of his game he plans to work on during 2020.
“I feel I am close. Over the last couple of years, I’ve proved I can beat top players,” he said.
“I can be persistent and consistent at the same time. I plan to work on controlling my nerves on court, being patient, not cracking under pressure and being brave in match situations.”
Despite being the only Greek player inside the top 450 on the ATP Tour, Tsitsipas’ rise in tennis hasn’t gone unnoticed in his home country. Last week he was named Greece’s best male athlete of 2019 at the Panhellenic Sports Press Association Awards.
Whilst things are moving in a positive direction on the court, Baghdatis has urged the tennis player to improve his life outside of tennis. Tsitsipas is known for his introverted personality.
“I think he needs to improve his out of the court life – (have) more friends and (be) more relaxed. He needs to have a life outside of the court because at one point it can catch (up with) you.” Baghdatis warns.
“He doesn’t think about anything else. It’s tennis and nothing else, which is an unbelievable thing.’
“It’s a quality not to have the need of other people. If you want it and you don’t have it, it’s not good. But maybe he doesn’t want it. It’s an unbelievable quality to have as a professional tennis player.”
Tsitsipas will return to action on Thursday. In his opening match at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, he will play Gael Monfils.
