2025 can be a vital 12 months for Stefanos Tsitsipas’ profession. The Greek ace is just not having a good time and his rise has come to an abrupt halt within the final couple of years. After reaching the ultimate on the Australian Open in 2023 (misplaced to Novak Djokovic), the expertise from Athens has not solely not improved however has even regressed from some factors of view.
Though Rafael Nadal retired and Nole Djokovic dropped because of age, Tsitsipas has not come near profitable a Grand Slam title as a result of vehement rise of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The Italian and the Spaniard have taken management of the ATP tour, have equally divided the 4 Main titles in 2024 and I do know very properly the weaknesses of ‘Tsitsi’. The Greek – who gained 11 ATP titles throughout his profession – has steadily misplaced all his certainties and his starvation to get to the highest of the ATP rating has pale increasingly more.
The 2019 ATP Finals champion gained the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo for the third time in 2024, however that success was not sufficient to save lots of a season far under expectations. The reality is that tennis not appears to be a precedence for Stefanos and the failure to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin was one other blow for him.
The previous Prime 10 participant will attempt to get an important consequence on the subsequent Australian Open, a event during which he has usually performed his finest tennis prior to now. At Melbourne Park, he defeated his idol Roger Federer in 2019 and reached the ultimate in 2023, in addition to beating Sinner twice in 2022 and 2023.
2024 additionally sanctioned the skilled separation from his father Apostolos, however Stefanos’ outcomes didn’t enhance within the second half of the season.
Tsitsipas reveals his objectives
In a protracted interview with ‘ASAP Sports activities’ earlier than the beginning of the 2025 United Cup, the Greek ace revealed his objectives for subsequent season: “I am on the lookout for a contemporary, new 2025. That does not imply to out of the blue simply begin profitable the whole lot. That is not the purpose of this. It is simply to see a trajectory of fixed enchancment, and enhancing in all fields in my profession, but additionally in my exterior life.”
He continued: “I need to have stability in my life. Final 12 months was slightly bit up-and-down when it comes to outcomes, when it comes to emotions exterior of the courtroom and on-court. So I am simply hoping 2025 brings stability, a whole lot of well being. I additionally struggled with these sort of points prior to now. I am hoping only for a wholesome 2025 and one which brings me plenty of good recollections. It would not need to be happiness, simply plenty of good recollections.”
Tsitsipas could be very completely satisfied off the courtroom due to his love-story along with his colleague Paula Badosa, however he additionally wants to search out the correct motivations whereas taking part in tennis. The primary months of 2025 can be essential for him, in any other case his downward trajectory might have already begun. His leads to 2024 weren’t passable, and his performances in Grand Slam tournaments have been usually disastrous.
Need for revenge
In the identical interview, the 2023 Australian Open finalist admitted that he struggled quite a bit in 2024: “If I’ve to say one thing about this 12 months, it’s that I’m very happy with what I’m doing now, as a result of my thoughts has had some very tough moments this 12 months and I wasn’t positive if I may proceed taking part in tennis.
Tennis wasn’t necessary to me anymore, going to tournaments wasn’t necessary to me anymore. It’s been sophisticated as a result of I by no means imagined I’d get up to now, however I’m happy with myself for the way in which I’ve dealt with the conditions – as a result of it hasn’t been simple.
Essentially the most stunning factor was going to Monte Carlo and profitable the title there once more as a result of, inside, I wasn’t 100% positive if I may do it due to the whole lot that was occurring.”
It is onerous to assume the Greek champion can aspire to win a Main title subsequent 12 months, however Stefanos completely must get nearer to the highest of the lads’s tour. His fundamental purpose in 2025 must be to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, the place this 12 months he has solely gone as an alternate. The expertise from Athens could have much less strain than in previous seasons and can have the ability to work on his sport with extra tranquility, lastly fixing his weaknesses (such because the backhand).
A participant like Tsitsipas is essential for males’s tennis and it could be a disgrace if his profession had already provided its finest. The Greek can even need to get assist from his household and crew members, to elevate a damaging inertia that has been affecting him for a while.
