One of the highest contenders for the lads’s Wimbledon title, Stefanos Tsitsipas, has taken a dig at two-time champion Rafael Nadal, saying the Spanish legend’s “different routines … have cost him his career”.
Greek star Tsitsipas, the world’s fifth-ranked participant, is a former finalist at each the Australian Open and Roland Garros. He opened his match at Wimbledon on Tuesday morning in opposition to Austrian Dominic Thiem, and was down one set to like when rain suspended play. He has beforehand gone no additional than the fourth spherical at Wimbledon.
Speaking to Greek news web site Sports DNA forward of his match in opposition to Thiem, Tsitsipas was requested in regards to the obvious inevitability of one other title for reigning champion Novak Djokovic, who’s received the earlier two Wimbledon finals.
“As a top five player and title contender, how do you feel when you hear from experts and non-experts that Novak Djokovic has the trophy in his pocket?” journalist Vicky Georgatou requested.
“Somehow he has!” Tsitsipas joked.
“He is stubborn, to me, is the truth. And I want like crazy to be able to win and show that I’m capable of doing something too, but he’s found the secret recipe of how he can be there in every slam, and go deep without any problem against any opponent. It works like clockwork!
“I have observed his routines and seen how professional he is at what he does. It’s completely normal that he’s playing at this level.”
At this level, Tsitsipas volunteered a comparability with Nadal, who lately missed the French Open for the primary time in 19 years as a consequence of a hip harm.
“I don’t want to say anything bad about Nadal, but he has different routines that have cost him his career with injuries, and I know why these things happen,” Tsitsipas stated.
“Novak has avoided it. His diet is the most incredible in tennis, his recovery is the most advanced I have seen.
“So I also take some elements and add them to my own tennis. I think that’s also why he is going so strong at an age where you’d think your level would drop, which is normal.”
Every week earlier than Wimbledon, Tsitsipas weighed into the “greatest of all time” debate, saying Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer are all “great” – although he declined to appoint his choose.
“Some people say that numbers matter, grand slam titles. Others, that it is more the number of fans the player has drawn to tennis, that that’s what counts. There are many versions of who is the best. I’ll let people draw their own conclusions.”
Tsitsipas was a sufferer of Nick Kyrgios final yr because the Australian made a shocking run to the Wimbledon last. Asked whether or not that defeat had given him ammunition for the long run, the Greek answered: “Yes, definitely.”
And he proceeded to take a fairly blunt shot at Kyrgios, who pulled out of this yr’s match a day earlier than his first spherical match, citing a wrist harm.
“For me, Kyrgios is a good player on grass, although he may not be that professional in some things, like fitness, and we all know that,” stated Tsitsipas.
“He has talent, and he plays on a surface where it is not as physically demanding as clay, for example. He gets by. Let’s put it that way.”
He stated he had “learned my lesson” and it was his “mistake” to permit Kyrgios to place him within the incorrect headspace throughout their match.
“In the future I know that this will be his main tactic. He said it himself in (the Netflix documentary) Break Point. I look forward to it in our next match. I want to keep playing against players like him, because I think if I can get a win against Kyrgios, Djokovic or Alcaraz, it’s a door that opens for a grand slam title.”
Tsitsipas speaks about new tennis love match
Tsitsipas just isn’t merely identified for his abilities on court docket. He can also be one half of a well-known tennis glamour couple, the opposite half being Spanish participant Paula Badosa, who can also be competing at Wimbledon. Badosa, the world quantity 35, is scheduled to play her first spherical match in opposition to American Alison Riske-Amritraj on Wednesday, climate permitting. Like Tsitsipas, she has beforehand reached the fourth spherical.
Far from resenting the eye on the couple, Tsitsipas spoke freely about their relationship in his interview.
“For the last three years I have loved her very much,” he stated.
“I saw her for the first time at the Australian Open in 2020, on the TV from my apartment, and I remember her now vividly. It’s not often that I see someone on TV and like their energy so much, without ever having met them.
“With a few ‘hellos’ over the last few years I was given the opportunity to get to know her more and more.”
Their connection grew when he despatched her congratulations for a win on tour, having been impressed by her dealing with of a troublesome opponent.
“The truth is, she was a big fan of mine before that and I was (of her) too, for the way she plays, while I also liked her character and her personality. It was a common thing, on both sides,” stated Tsitsipas.
“It was meant to happen, there were so many signs. I won’t go into details because it would take me an hour! In a way, I feel like I’m falling in love for the first time in my life. I never expected this to happen, and it gives me a new perspective on life, it makes me a happier person. Whether I win titles or lose, it doesn’t matter to me, I know we are here to create beautiful moments together.
“I will support her as much as I can, along with my tennis. I will be there for her. I love her very much and will continue to love her forever.”
Love isn’t all the time a foul factor in tennis, it appears. Though Tsitsipas was eager to emphasize that his relationship was not eroding his ambition.
“Tennis is my daily life, and it’s the only job I have,” he defined.
“So we have also made it clear, Paula and I, that tennis will be our number one goal, and what we do, and we will be here for each other, to support each other and to live a dream together.
“We both want to win a grand slam, and I hope we can do it together soon.”
Theoretically, it might nonetheless occur in lower than two weeks.
Source: www.news.com.au
