Stefanos Tsitsipas, a young and talented Greek tennis player, has been making waves in the tennis world since his debut on the ATP Tour in 2017. He has rapidly risen in the rankings, winning multiple titles and making deep runs at Grand Slam events. With his stylish game, engaging personality, and undeniable talent, Tsitsipas has become one of the most exciting players to watch in the sport.
Early Career
Born in Athens, Greece on August 12, 1998, Tsitsipas was raised in a family of tennis players. His mother, Julia Salnikova, was a professional player from Russia, and his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, was a coach at a tennis club in Athens. Stefanos and his younger brother, Petros, both began playing tennis at a young age under their father’s guidance.
Tsitsipas started his professional career in 2016, playing mostly on the ITF Futures and Challenger circuits. He cleared the hurdles of Challenger tour and came with his ranking to ATP tour the next year at the age of nineteen. In the same year, he played his first Grand Slam event at the 2017 French Open, where he made it to the second round. It was a promising start, and Tsitsipas continued to gain confidence and momentum as he competed against some of the top players in the world.
Breakthrough Season
Tsitsipas’ breakthrough season was 2018, where he made a name for himself on the ATP Tour. He started the year by winning his first ATP title in Stockholm, defeating Ernests Gulbis in the final. He then reached the final of the ATP Next Gen Finals in Milan, where he lost to Hyeon Chung in a thrilling five-set match.
At Wimbledon, Tsitsipas made it to the fourth round, defeating Jaroslav Pospisil, Jared Donaldson, Thomas Fabbiano, and Matteo Berrettini in the process. He lost to John Isner in four sets, but it was a notable achievement for a player making his debut in the main draw of the tournament.
One of the most impressive performances of Tsitsipas’ career came at the 2018 Rogers Cup in Toronto, where he defeated four top ten players to reach the final. He defeated Dominic Thiem, Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Kevin Anderson to become the youngest player to reach a Masters 1000 final since Rafael Nadal in 2005. In the final, he faced Rafael Nadal, who he lost to in a hard-fought three-set match.
Later that year, Tsitsipas qualified for his first ATP Finals tournament in London, where he defeated Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev before losing to Roger Federer in the semifinals. He ended the year ranked seventh in the world, and was named ATP Newcomer of the Year.
Recent Success
Tsitsipas’ success has continued in 2019 and 2020. He won his second ATP title at the Open 13 tournament in Marseille in February 2019, defeating Mikhail Kukushkin in the final. He also reached the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he lost to Roger Federer.
At the 2019 Australian Open, Tsitsipas made a run to the semifinals, where he defeated Roger Federer in four sets in one of the biggest upsets of the tournament. He lost to Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, but his performance in Melbourne solidified his status as one of the rising stars of the sport.
Tsitsipas continued his impressive form in 2019, winning his first ATP Masters 1000 title at the Madrid Open, where he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and Dominic Thiem in the final. He also reached the semifinals of the French Open, losing to eventual champion Nadal.
In 2020, Tsitsipas reached the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he lost to Novak Djokovic. He then won his fifth career ATP title at the Open 13 tournament in Marseille, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final. He followed up that victory with another title at the ATP Estoril Open, where he defeated Pablo Cuevas in the final.
Playing Style
Tsitsipas is known for his stylish and aggressive game, which is built around his powerful serve and booming groundstrokes. He has a one-handed backhand, a rare shot in the modern game, and is a skilled net player. He also has a strong mental game, and is known for his focus and determination on court.
Off the court, Tsitsipas is a charismatic and engaging personality. He is fluent in Greek, English, and Russian, and is known for his thoughtful and insightful comments in post-match interviews. He is also a talented vlogger, and has a large following on social media.
Future Outlook
As of June 2020, Tsitsipas is ranked No. 6 in the world, and is widely considered one of the most promising players in the sport. He has the potential to challenge for Grand Slam titles, and has already shown that he can compete with some of the best players in the world. With his talent, personality, and work ethic, Tsitsipas is sure to be a force in the tennis world for years to come.