“It’s a spiritual type of surface” – Tsitsipas records 20th win at Roland-Garros

The Greek says he loves breaking personal records and also records that haven’t been set before

Stefanos Tsitsipas at the 2023 French Open

May 31, 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas is known for his splendid shot making on the court and his interests in philosophy off the court. On Wednesday, the fifth seed defeated Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-2 to move into the third round of Roland-Garros and score his 20th win on the clay courts of the tournament. Speaking to the media after his win, Tsitsipas gave some interesting responses to the media during his press conference.

When asked what he thought about the routine of cleaning and watering the courts between the sets, the Greek shared his thoughts about the process.

“It’s a cleansing of the soul (smiling). It’s just like a knife. You let the old pass and you start with the new,” the 2021 French Open finalist said. “It’s a great feeling when you step out on a newly made clay court that is clean. All the lines are perfect. It makes for a very pleasing visual experience. But there’s also beauty on when the courts are dirty and messed up and you can see all of the footwork and effort that has been put in and you have a visual of that, of how much work has been put in in order for you to succeed in what you do. It’s a spiritual type of surface. Let’s call it that way (smiling). It definitely is.”

“I’m attached to it because I played on that surface since I started playing tennis. Those rituals, I have seen them over and over again. It’s kind of ingrained in me, and it’s part of my identity. I have done it a thousand times myself, and now it’s kind of been, it’s a ritual that is done by other people, not by me anymore.”

Tennis is just trying to figure it out; what works best for you, where your strengths are, how can you pull through when difficult circumstances or moments come about.
Stefanos Tsitsipas

Tennis – ATP 500 – Barcelona Open – Real Club de Tenis, Barcelona, Spain – April 22, 2023 Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in action during his semi final match against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti (AI/Reuters/Panoramic)

The Greek gave some deeper insights into his thoughts about the game when he was asked how complicated and simple the sport can be.

” You got me there. Tennis can be very complicated for some, especially people that see more of the glass empty rather than the glass full,” Tsitsipas said. “It’s a mindset. It’s a way of how you practice and train and how you go about things when you play tennis. There are moments where it feels like a mountain, and I have been through that, and I have had phases in my career where it felt like a giant mountain. There are other phases of my career where it just felt so effortless and so simplified and easy that it’s just a joy to be playing the game and to be trying to figure it out, because that’s what it is. Tennis is just trying to figure it out; what works best for you, where your strengths are, how can you pull through when difficult circumstances or moments come about.”

Having reached two milestones this week, his 20th win at Roland-Garros on Wednesday and his 50th Grand Slam win earlier in the week, Tsitsipas added that he loved playing for records and hoped to continue breaking more in the future.

“I am very much in when it comes to breaking records. I get excited when I see personal records being kind of set and broken,” the 25-year-old said.

“Of course, it’s a great satisfaction to be seeing those stats, because there is so much work behind it, and sometimes it’s difficult to grasp the fact that it all happened so quickly. I just wish to keep on going. I wish to be healthy and to be fighting for more titles and breaking personal records but also records that haven’t been set before in tennis, like that serve thing that happened in Madrid was quite cool, actually. I never thought about it. It just happened. I wish to be kind of I think few things like this too (smiling).”