Stefanos Tsitsipas has labelled rival Novak Djokovic as one of tennis’ all-time great as he seeks to make waves at the Wimbledon Championships.
The world No.4 came agonisingly close to winning his first Grand Slam a couple weeks ago at the French Open where he was leading Djokovic by two sets before losing in five. Placing the Serbian on course to achieve a calendar slam in 2021 for the first time in his career. Tsitsipas had beaten Djokovic twice in his career out of eight attempts so far.
“I find it very challenging playing against him. I think he’s one of the greatest players tennis has seen,” Tsitsipas told reporters on Sunday. “It’s this way for a reason. He has worked so hard to get there. He’s someone that I think just right now thinks he’s the best. That’s why he’s been playing this way.’
“I have to say that grass court is a surface that he’s been confident and playing good.”
However, the 22-year-old shouldn’t be written off completely when it comes to the danger he poses to others. So far this year he has won 39 matches which is six more than any other player on the ATP Tour. Leading up to Wimbledon, he opted not to play a grass-court warm-up event. Instead, he had a short break in the British countryside outside of London before returning to training over a week ago.
Now refreshed and ready to go, Tsitsipas is hoping to make up for his mixed fortunes at the All England Club. In his three previous appearances he has reached the fourth round once and lost in the first round twice. Two years ago, he fell at the first hurdle to Italy’s Thomas Fabbiano.
“I was a completely different person than I am now. Probably not as confident as I am now. I relied a lot on my confidence back then. Most certainly I didn’t really have a Plan B or Plan C. I kind of had just one way of playing, ” he reflected.
“I was disappointed. I was also miserable that time of the year. Didn’t feel really well. I wasn’t really enjoying what I was doing out there. It took me a while to kind of readjust and understand what was the reason why I’m out on the court, what’s the reason I’m out there playing the sport that I love, playing the sport that I have dedicated most of my life to.’
“Right now I’m feeling happy every single day. I’m grateful that I’m able to do what I love.”
The Greek is one of six players in the men’s draw who have previously reached the final of a major at least once before. Should he win the title he would become the youngest player to lift a Grand Slam since Juan Martin del Potro at the 2009 US Open.
“I’m feeling alright on grass. I think it will take a few matches for me to start gaining more confidence. Right now I just want to see how each single match that I get to play here will evolve and what my opportunities are going to be,” he concluded.
Tsitsipas will play Frances Tiafoe in his opening match on Monday.
