Tsitsipas continues to struggle in Grand Slams: "It's disappointing to see myself in this position again"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 22 Jan 2026 | 16.51

Tsitsipas continues to struggle in Grand Slams: "It's disappointing to see myself in this position again". Photo: Gettyimages

Streaming ATP Rio De Janeiro live tennis

🎾 Francesco Passaro vs Vilius Gaubas

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 is a case of unfulfilled potential. The Greek player, after a forgettable 2025 in terms of his game, results, and physical condition, approached 2026 recovered from his back issues and with the desire to redeem himself and again become one of the best tennis players in the world.

However, Tsitsipas has stumbled again on that stumbling block named Grand Slam, being overpowered by Tomas Machac (6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(5)) in the second round of the 2026 Australian Open. Thus, the Greek player extends his streak to seven consecutive Grand Slams without achieving two consecutive wins or reaching the second week, with Roland Garros 2024 being the last time he made it to the quarterfinals.

Consequently, in the press conference following his defeat, Tsitsipas repeatedly expressed the word 'disappointment', particularly, as he mentions, after showing a good level of tennis and physical form, two aspects he lacked in 2025. He also took the opportunity to share his feelings about his match against Machac.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and his deep disappointment after being eliminated from the 2026 Australian Open

"I'm upset about my match; I love Australia very much. I always want to play well here. The crowd, the Greeks in Melbourne, have given me the best support any player could wish for. I played with heart and intensity, but there are many things I need to change. My serve was good, my returns not so much, and that cost me a lot. It's a shame. It's a shame because I feel good and I'm playing well. I can't say I'm not playing well.

"I've lost Grand Slams and felt like I wasn't playing well, that I wasn't in shape. Right now, I feel that I'm in good shape and have no reasons to make excuses because I'm where I need to be. I'm very disappointed. I had some goals, and it's been a while since I won consecutive matches in a Grand Slam. It's disappointing to see myself in this position again, unable to reach the second week of a Grand Slam."

He didn't play his best tennis against a great Machac

"I didn't trust my shots much. I've seen myself in better shape in the past, trusting my shots. Today I didn't trust them enough to play like a top player. I played conservatively, and in the end, my forehand was not the way I'm used to hitting it. Overall, I'm very dissatisfied with the outcome because I could have done better."

He can't explain his poor performance

"I will keep trying to listen to the experts, my coach, my team who support me and have been by my side all this time. Honestly, I don't know how to explain it. I'm playing well; I can't say I'm playing poorly, I'm playing well. In the past, I've played much worse; I've been through stages in my career where I played worse. My serve is good, although my returns are a bit weak, I must admit. I'm disappointed in how I returned his serve today, especially at certain moments in the match."

"I'm still trying to understand and explain why I failed on the returns because in my mind, I was looking for something standard, something I've tried many times and repeated in training. And to see that on the court, during a match, it turns out differently, is very frustrating and disappointing. I'm just trying to find solutions and see what comes out, perhaps by working more on it," concludes a Stefanos Tsitsipas who continues to convey negative vibes that don't seem to dissipate anytime soon.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsitsipas sigue sin levantar cabeza en los Grand Slams: "Es decepcionante verme en esta posición otra vez"