Tsitsipas: “I want to bring an Olympic medal back to my country and win a Grand Slam”

In recent years, Stefanos Tsitsipas has had to endure a difficult end to the season. In 2021, he had to withdraw from the ATP Finals after his first match due to pain in his right elbow for which he underwent surgery. Last month, it was his back that forced him to throw in the towel after three games, against Holger Rune, in his second group match of the season-ending finale.

Present at the World Tennis League – a team exhibition event held in Abu Dhabi – at the end of last week, the Greek took part in the men’s and mixed doubles on the first day. He was then replaced by Lloyd Harris on Friday and Saturday, before competing in the mixed doubles with girlfriend Paola Badosa on Sunday.

“I wasn’t able to get the preparation that I actually needed” – Tsitsipas on his off-season

In an interview with The National on the sidelines of the event, the Greek gave an update ahead of the start of the 2024 season, saying his back has almost healed and that he is in “better condition”.

“I wasn’t able to get the preparation that I actually needed – I’m talking about all the weeks (I was hoping to get),” said Tsitsipas about his preseason this year. “However, I did spend quality time with my family and I did spend a few weeks trying to find a solution to all of this (physical problems) and I think it paid off, going for many days in a row into rehab and committing myself to the process of absolute healing.”

My goal there is to improve my own qualities and my own tennis that comes with the whole package in order to compete against these players.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

To start 2024, the current world No. 6 chose to represent his country in the mixed United Cup at the beginning of January. Heading into the Australian Open, Tsitsipas has plenty to defend and the goal of doing even better than his 2023 runner-up finish.

“I want to obviously bring an Olympic medal back to my country, that is a goal of mine. I want to win a Grand Slam title, that is also a goal of mine. For sure, in order for me to do these things I need to be healthy because there was a time this season where certain circumstances didn’t allow me to perform at 100 per cent; what I’m talking about those instances, they appeared after the Australian Open this year, and towards the end of the season. I’m just hoping not to be that limited and to explore further in 2024,” Tsitsipas added.

“My goal there is to improve my own qualities and my own tennis that comes with the whole package in order to compete against these players, because these are the fittest, strongest, most enduring tennis players that our sport has seen in a long time.”

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