Tsitsipas : "Il faut être masochiste pour apprécier la souffrance que représente le fait d'être l'un des meilleurs tennismen du monde"

Stefanos Tsitsipas will play the final of the ATP 250 in Gstaad this Sunday after defeating Alexander Shevchenko and putting an end to a very long wait. The Greek reaches his 31st ATP final, the first one in 504 days, since Dubai 2025, and also the first on clay in 818 days, since Barcelona 2024. He spoke at a press conference about what this means for him, as reported by the Greek outlet sdna.gr.

Beyond the possibility of winning a new title, this week represents a true turning point for Stefanos Tsitsipas. He arrived in Switzerland as world number 85 and is now guaranteed to rise to the 64th place in the ATP ranking, while a victory in the final against Raphael Collignon would allow him to reach the 51st spot.

However, the most valuable aspect of this resurgence seems to go far beyond the points: regaining competitiveness, restoring confidence, and realizing that his tennis is once again approaching the level that made him one of the best players in the world for years. There is still much work to be done, but this week could be a true turning point in the competitive dynamic of the Greek.

A week to believe again after many months of turbulence

Tsitsipas's trajectory over the last year and a half has been marked by an instability that is hard to imagine in a player who was once one of the top contenders to win a Grand Slam. The persistent doubts about his game, changes in his team, the break-up and subsequent reconciliation with his father as coach, the fluctuations in his relationship with Paula Badosa, a physical condition far from his peak, and a worrying competitive stagnation progressively distanced him from the elite.

Therefore, what happened in Gstaad takes on a special significance. Beyond reaching a new ATP final, the Greek is once again transmitting hope, confidence, and the feeling that he is starting to rediscover a tennis that had been hidden for too long. He himself acknowledged that the match against Alexander Shevchenko was full of surprises.

"I broke a racket, I almost broke my leg... twice," he joked, laughing. "It was a very fun day, full of adventures. To be honest, something like this had never happened to me. It was so dramatic and so bad. I literally rolled in the middle of the court like a sack of potatoes. I was scared because when your foot gets stuck in the ground, you can twist your ankle, and that's an injury that can keep you out for many months."

Beyond the scare, Tsitsipas highlighted the toughness of the match and his ability to stay in the game when things started to get complicated.

"It was an excellent match. I fought hard. There were ups and downs. I started with a lot of energy, then dipped a bit while he raised his level. I hit some really good shots, although I couldn't do it consistently as I would have liked, especially with high balls. I missed some good opportunities because of that."

Tsitsipas explains the importance of having regained a fighting spirit

If there is one idea that is constantly repeated in Tsitsipas's discourse, it is the importance of recovering the competitive spirit. After so many months where he seemed to lose confidence very easily, the Greek considers that this has been the major change of this week.

"The most important thing is to fight. First and foremost, you have to know how to compete and take advantage of every opportunity, every moment. Regardless of whether you win or lose, you must remain competitive and keep fighting. That's always what I try to do. Then comes the next step, which is finding the solution to win the match. I did it again, and that was fantastic."

He also wanted to highlight the fantastic atmosphere he has experienced throughout the week in the Swiss town, where the presence of Greek fans has pleasantly surprised him.

"There are Greeks everywhere. I run into them in the hotel shouting my name. There are even many Greek workers here. I didn't expect such a large Greek presence in Gstaad. I am very happy to be here and even more so now that I have managed to reach the final. Tomorrow, I will completely regain my competitive mentality and try to surpass myself once again."

Stefanos Tsitsipas looks to the long term with renewed hopes

After more than a year without playing an ATP final, Tsitsipas did not hide his satisfaction at being back in contention for a title. "Yes, this final is special. I think about how beautiful it is to compete for a title again. I feel full of confidence. I am happy to be back in a position where I can fight for important trophies and be one of the last two players left in a tournament."

Moreover, he assured that he begins to see very positive signs in his tennis. "My tennis is showing very good signs. I feel that I can execute shots at a very high level. But I have to keep working on my consistency because my goal is long term. I want to get back on the court every day and keep improving."

Precisely that word, consistency, appeared repeatedly during his reflections. The Greek explained that he is still trying to regain the stability that allowed him to stay among the best in the world for years.

"I have experienced what it means to be at the top of the rankings, to play the final rounds of Grand Slam and Masters 1000 tournaments. I know how much pain and suffering it takes to do it constantly. Believe me, it's not pleasant. You have to be a bit masochistic to enjoy that suffering. That's what sets the best apart from the rest. They are able to endure a little more."

He added a very significant self-criticism about the last few months. "I feel that my serve has worked very well in these last few matches. There has been a drop in some aspects over the past few months. I have been able to beat Top-10 players this year, but I couldn't maintain that level consistently. For me, that is the most important thing. Victories against top players are great, but you have to keep doing it day after day."

The altitude of Gstaad, a perfect setting for Tsitsipas's tennis

Another aspect that Tsitsipas considers crucial in his great week is the altitude of Gstaad itself. Accustomed to training by the sea in Monte Carlo, the Greek explained that the adjustment was not easy, although he quickly discovered that the conditions favor some of his key strengths.

"It's tough to play here, especially during the first days. I came from Monte Carlo, at sea level, and now I'm in the mountains. It's hard to get used to the ball bounce, but I think these conditions improve my game. The altitude enhances my best shots, makes the ball bounce a bit more, and those of us with a strong serve and strong arms can benefit from it."

Before thinking about the final, Tsitsipas also wanted to dedicate a few words to Alexander Shevchenko after a tremendously close semifinal. "It was a great battle. I think we both played very well, and it's a shame that only one could win. I feel that both of us deserved to be in the final. I want to congratulate him on the incredible effort he made today."

Next up is Raphael Collignon, another player who is also very physically demanding after a week full of long matches. Tsitsipas expects another battle. "Both of us have had very tough matches, and both of us want this title. We're going out there to give it our all. I expect nothing less than a great fight. In a final, you always want to give everything, and that's exactly what I'll try to do."

After too many months marked by doubts, Gstaad has already given Stefanos Tsitsipas something that seemed even more important than a final: the feeling of believing in himself again. Now all he has to do is take one last step to complete a week that could mark the true beginning of his sports reconstruction.