Tsitsipas: "I am like a dinosaur heading towards extinction"

Stefanos Tsitsipas is experiencing a tennis and emotional awakening at the 2026 US Open. Already qualified for the third round, the Greek attended a press conference to explain the philosophy that will guide the next steps of his sports career, as well as to praise the one-handed backhand.

The best possible news for tennis is seeing Stefanos Tsitsipas in a good version of himself, perceiving light at the end of a tunnel that seemed endless just a few months ago. The numerous and turbulent changes in the Greek's personal and professional life seem to have given way to a peaceful haven where the former Grand Slam finalist has reconnected with himself. 

After winning in four sets against Lloyd Harris, he appeared at a press conference, and his reflections were captured by the Greek media sdna. In them, he does not just explain the keys to his tennis resurgence, but also analyzes in detail the advantages, disadvantages, and future of the one-handed backhand in tennis.

This is what Stefanos Tsitsipas said after reaching the third round of the 2026 US Open

Assessment of the victory against Lloyd Harris at the US Open

"At first, it was a little strange returning his serve because his motion is very different from Fils' serve. It took me some time to adapt. At first, it was a bit frustrating because I felt like I couldn't get the timing right against his serve."

"I needed a little time to get used to it. I tried different things. It's normal to try different solutions when you see that things are not working as you want. These trials led me to different options and some solutions where I understood that there was something I could take advantage of."

"There was something valuable there. And I stayed in the match. I could have served better, but I fought hard, and that was enough."

Improving every day regardless of the result, Tsitsipas's mantra

"I define success through improvement. It’s not about a specific result. If I see that in my next match I have raised my level and improved certain aspects of my game, that alone makes me happy."

"The result is secondary at this moment. I am focusing more, along with my team, on how we can really be better, even with the only training day we have tomorrow. I want to step onto the court and have that mentality in training: I want to improve. What can I do? What can I improve?".

Tsitsipas dreams of being a key player in Grand Slams again

"When I was a kid and grew up watching tennis, seeing the highest level of this sport and the Grand Slams, I didn't imagine wanting to stop in the third round of a Grand Slam. As a child, I always imagined the big scenes: the semifinals, the finals."

"Those were the moments I worked for since I was little and dreamed of, playing alone against the wall or with other kids. I always imagined myself in a situation like that. A night session at Arthur Ashe at the US Open is still a childhood dream of mine."

"I've lived it before, but doing it in a different context, playing a semifinal or final, is a completely different experience."

Tsitsipas and the challenge of Lehecka in the third round

While he positively valued the victory, the Greek was self-critical about some moments of his tennis against Harris. In particular, he noted that there were phases in which he was too passive, making it clear that he wants to change that trend against Lehecka to recover a more aggressive version that allows him to gain confidence and harm his opponents more.

"It all depends on whether I am going to play aggressively. Today I felt there were moments when I was a bit passive. Still, I'm proud of my victory and the way I found solutions and managed to win the match."

"I would just like to see myself playing more aggressively. When I see that, I gain confidence. It gives me faith. It creates the feeling that we can harm our opponents. That's how I see it. I just want to see something different in my next match. Try to play in a different way. That's all."

Tsitsipas analyzes the one-handed backhand in tennis

The Greek is one of the few representatives in elite tennis today of the one-handed backhand and is aware that a historic streak could be broken if he or any other player using that shot, like Musetti, do not reach the semifinals of the 2026 US Open. When asked about it, he made a thorough analysis of that shot.

"I’m not one of those players who likes to use the slice backhand a lot. I’ll use it when necessary, depending on the specific tactic and the specific opponent. I want to step on the court and hit my backhand."

"I see some players with a one-handed backhand who use the slice too much. It would never be my strong point. By nature, I have always preferred to hit my backhand. The one-handed backhand requires exceptional footwork and very good technique."

"That is the only disadvantage compared to the two-handed backhand. With the two-handed backhand, I feel like you can always correct a complicated situation somehow. If you arrive a bit late or are out of position, you can always use your left hand to reach the ball and put it in play."

"With the one-handed backhand, you don't have that option. If you're late, you're late. It's sad that this shot is disappearing. You see that with every decade that passes, there are fewer of us. We are like dinosaurs heading towards extinction."

Stefanos Tsitsipas is fully aware that everything he has experienced provides him with a wealth of experience and learnings that can be differential in this new stage. The Greek is showing a good version of himself at this 2026 US Open and wants to extend his adventure in New York, which will require defeating a very dangerous Jiri Lehecka in the third round.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsitsipas: "Soy como un dinosaurio que se encamina a la extinción"