Tsitsipas confesses the reason why he has never played in South America

Fernando Murciego | 26 Feb 2026 | 08.09

Tsitsipas confesses the reason he has never played in South America. Source: Getty.

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It's good for Stefanos Tsitsipas to be so honest, although his statements will surely not sit well with everyone. The Greek, who has never traveled to South American tournaments in February, has confessed the reason behind this decision.

And the reason is simply money. If Stefanos Tsitsipas has never been to Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, or Santiago de Chile, it is because these tournaments never offered him the money he expected, or at least, they couldn't match the amounts offered to him elsewhere in the world. In a recent interview with CLAY, we can hear the Greek explaining in detail his principles when choosing his calendar stops, with the economic factor often carrying the most weight in case of doubt.

“The reality is that I have never received good offers to play this swing,” points out the three-time Grand Slam finalist, without fear of backlash. "Ultimately, when the financial gap is so significant, one has no choice but to continue betting on what can support your career. I would love to play there, of course. It has always been my dream to visit South America; I've heard many times that it has wonderful things to offer," admits Stefanos, who at 30 years old has his priorities well defined.

It's curious because the Greek loves clay courts, a surface that usually brings a smile to his face in spring, but in February, it's different. However, what truly differs is the paycheck he receives. Hence, he has nine participations in Rotterdam, two in Doha, five in Dubai, six in Marseille, two in Sofia, one in Montpellier, one in Los Cabos, and three in Acapulco. It seems that in Central America, they do pay the necessary fees, but negotiating below that level is impossible.

Stefanos Tsitsipas and his reason for always rejecting South America. Source: Getty

“I must be honest and also straightforward: from an economic standpoint, I believe it is understandable that I choose other destinations when February comes, rather than the South American tournaments. I suppose all players in the locker room select their tournaments based on these guarantees; that's how tennis works," assures the Athenian, who, after his recent stumble in Dubai, will see himself drop out of the top 40 for the first time in a long while.

Will Tsitsipas ever play the South American Golden Swing?

Who knows, maybe it was never about surfaces. The eagerness shown by the circuit for the tournaments in South America to switch to hard courts could be a cover-up, and the real issue is the lack of economic strength to attract the best players. One thing is for certain, none of this adds up to Argentina, Brazil, or Chile securing a place in the future of a tour where money rules, as in almost any corner of society.

“South America has never offered me a good enough deal to seriously consider this option. The Middle East has always been much better for me in terms of fees and appearance. There's also the indoor European tour, which has also provided me with strong financial incentives. In the end, this makes a difference,” emphasizes Tsitsipas, whom some parts of the world will only be able to see on television.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsitsipas confiesa el motivo por el que nunca ha jugado en Sudamérica