Tsitsipas: "I'm more excited about the Laver Cup than any other tournament of the year"

Mónica Barberán Munera | 20 Sep 2024 | 18.42

Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Laver Cup 2024. Photo: Getty

Streaming ATP Rome live tennis

🎾 Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Tomas Machac

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

Stefanos Tsitsipas leveled the match in the Laver Cup by defeating Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first session of the day. Casper Ruud's previous defeat required him to raise his level so that Team Europe remained very much alive before the last two matches of the day. The Greek played his best tennis against the Australian, who had been his executioner a few weeks ago at the US Open. Thus, in addition to getting rid of a thorn, Tsitsipas had a great time playing for the team in one of his favorite competitions. In a press conference, the Greek spoke about the increasing importance of the Laver Cup or how Alcaraz and Sinner are the players from whom we must learn the most.

- Defeating his US Open executioner

“I stepped onto the court with a great sense of determination from the start; I didn't want to repeat what happened at the US Open. I made many unforced errors and didn't return points very well, so that was something I wanted to address and change for today's match. I didn't want to continue down the same path as in New York a few weeks ago. He played very well in that match, but I believe these conditions favor me, giving me more time to think and construct points. Being motivated from the beginning, feeling that team energy as I step onto the court allows me to progress differently than when I play alone.> I'm not playing just for myself; I play for everyone else here with the same purpose”.

- Federer, on Team Europe's side?

“It's a great advantage we have. Roger is on our side, for sure. He doesn't want to reveal it himself, but we all know he's there whenever we need him for the big moments, and that's a little advantage we have. Team World will have Rod Laver, but we have Roger. It's a good rivalry”.

- The importance of the Laver Cup compared to exhibitions

“People often tell me that this is an exhibition and that we don't care, but I tell them: ‘believe me, we care a lot’. There's a lot at stake, and we want to win everything. Being a player in this tournament makes me understand that its importance increases more each year. It becomes more and more of a historic event as the years go by. […] We don't have so many exhibitions that are part of the ATP calendar. The Laver Cup counts as an ATP event this week and there is no other competition or exhibition to compare it to. For me, the Laver Cup is an honorary tournament that you have to play in and be proud to have been selected to be part of the team. […]

We have an incredible team of players and good captains to guide us. I'm more excited about a competition like the Laver Cup than any other tournament of the year. It brings out the best in me, and I've always felt that I connect very well with the concept, trying to enjoy and learn from this week as much as possible as it teaches me a lot throughout my career”.

- Learning from Sinner and Alcaraz

“It's great for tennis to see them winning Grand Slams. It has been a learning experience for us to see what it takes to be in the same position they are. They are some of the hardest hitters and most aggressive players on the circuit right now. That also teaches you that you have to go all out; you can't be too passive to win Grand Slams. Whenever an opportunity arises, aggressive and attacking tennis is the solution and the answer to those Grand Slams and big victories needed to make the most of your career”.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsitsipas: "Me entusiasma más la Laver Cup que cualquier otro torneo del año"