Tsitsipas returns more ambitious than ever: "I want to go far in Grand Slams, I have big goals this year"
Despite losing in his debut in Adelaide, the Greek did not let the defeat lower his expectations for 2026. "I want to achieve great things and I know they depend on me."
Trust and an unshakeable faith in his new plan. Following a dismal 2025, where he dropped out of the top 10 and failed to secure a single victory against a top-20 player, Stefanos Tsitsipas begins 2026 with a completely renewed outlook. With the goal of leaving behind the worst year of his career, turbulent both on and off the court, the Greek, who seems to have undergone a physical renewal after treatment with a renowned doctor in Munich, aims to forget the discomfort, the issues, and the doubts and focus solely on tennis... and, for now, his goals are more ambitious than ever.
His statements, at least, seem to indicate so. At 27, the Greek is still in a phase of his career where he has plenty of room to regain his form: the problem perhaps lies in his style of play, in the face of the heaviness of the balls and the power of the new generations, which may have become somewhat outdated... something he has tried to address by confirming his switch to a Babolat Aero 98 racket, the same one he wielded when he clinched the title in Dubai last year.
It wasn't enough to overcome Aleksandar Vukic in his debut at the ATP Adelaide 2026, a small setback following a strong performance in the United Cup, where he scored noteworthy victories (over names like Taylor Fritz) to kick off this season with great momentum. "In crucial moments of the match, he was better than me, came up with great shots. It was a tightly contested match where I went for my shots," Tsitsipas notes after his defeat in two tiebreaks, highlighting a failed drop shot in one of them that altered the course of the match.
Tsitsipas articulates his major goals and confirms his desire to once again be a contender to win Grand Slams
Does this defeat put a stop to Stefanos' ambitious goals in 2026? Far from it. No one better than he himself to define where he wants to return: to being a contender to win his first Grand Slam, however distant it may seem currently. "I am playing at a high level of tennis. I won't let a result like this define my start to the season. I am focused on big goals and want to achieve great things this year.
I know that depends on me, on how much I am willing to work on the court and the consistency I want to show every day. I have a long year ahead, and I want it to start in the best possible way," stated Tsitsipas confidently. When it comes to specifying what those major goals are, and when asked if he sees himself capable of contending for Grand Slams (as he did, for instance, exactly three years ago when he reached the Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic), the Greek once again appeared very resolute and self-assured.
"Absolutely. That's my goal (to contend for Grand Slams). I want to perform well at the Slams, go far, feel my tennis, show the world that I still have 'it'. I have it. That's it." A response that perfectly encapsulates Tsitsipas' philosophy, already facing Australia as his next challenge. It won't be easy: being a seeded player could pair him against names like Alcaraz, Sinner, or Djokovic in a hypothetical third round... but it seems the Greek fears nothing. Will he be a threat in Melbourne?
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsitsipas vuelve más ambicioso que nunca: "Quiero llegar lejos en Grand Slams, tengo grandes metas este año"