Stefanos Tsitsipas believes the biggest problem he is currently facing on the Tour is regaining his confidence after recently overcoming injury.
The former world No.3 currently finds himself ranked 80th in the world after a difficult past few months. Coming into this week’s Madrid Masters, Tsitsipas was on a three-match losing streak and had recorded back-to-back wins at the same tournament (excluding the United Cup) in two out of his last nine played since January.
Tsitsipas’ mixed results followed a lengthy battle with a back injury that had hindered him for months. The issue was so problematic that the Greek, at one stage, contemplated retiring at the age of 27. Fortunately for Tsitsipas, his back problem appears to be finally resolved.
“I’m at a good place with my body because last year I felt like I was heading nowhere. I kept playing here and there, not very consistently. My confidence plummeted,” Tsitsipas told The Tennis Channel following his first round win at the Madrid Open.
“This year I’m healthy. I started the Australian Open until now, and haven’t had any issues with my body. The only thing that I’m missing is a few wins that I’m hoping to clinch over the next couple of weeks.”
A former French Open finalist, Tsitsipas has a solid record on the clay. Five of his 12 ATP titles were won on the surface, with three of those achieved at the Monte Carlo Masters. He has also previously reached the final of the two other clay Masters events in Madrid and Rome.
“I need wins, I need to start feeling my game again,” he continued.
“Back to where it was, especially during the clay court season. In the past, I’ve had some really good tournaments playing on clay, I’ve had success playing on the surface and I want to try and recreate that, see the things that actually work for me and try to replicate them.”
During his latest match in the Spanish capital, Tsitsipas battled past America’s Patrick Kypson 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in a roller-coaster encounter. He will next play sixth seed Alexander Bublik.
“I just take it one match at a time,” he explained.
“Each match has a different variation. Each player has a slightly different style. They all kind of play the same, but sometimes the spins, the flat shots, all these kinds of things vary and it gives you a different feel when you’re out there on the court.
“I’ve got a good opponent in the next round. I’m going to try and stick to my principles, the things that I actually do really well, try to work around those, go apply them in practice and hopefully it will work out on the court.”
Despite a lack of consistency so far this season, Tsitsipas has managed to beat top 10 players in Miami (Alex de Minaur) and at the United Cup (Taylor Fritz). He also beat Daniil Medvedev in Doha, who was ranked 11th at the time of their meeting.
“I want to use the clay court season to regain my confidence,” Tsitsipas states.
“Clinching difficult matches against seeded players and players that have been doing well this year. That’s my goal with the clay court season and use that confidence to build for the next phase (of the season).”
Tsitsipas is scheduled to play Bublik in Madrid on Saturday.
