Tsitsipas: "Occorre essere masochisti per godersi la sofferenza che comporta essere uno dei migliori tennisti al mondo"

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 in 504 days, since Dubai 2025, and also the first on clay court in 818 days, since Barcelona 2024. He talked about what this means for him in a press conference, as reported by the Greek outlet sdna.gr.

Beyond the possibility of winning a new title, this week represents a real turning point for Stefanos Tsitsipas. He arrived in Switzerland as the 85th-ranked player in the world and already has secured a climb to the 64th position in the ATP rankings, while a victory in the final against Raphael Collignon would place him as number 51.

However, the most valuable aspect of this resurgence seems to go far beyond points: regaining competitiveness, restoring confidence, and confirming that his tennis is approaching the level that made him one of the best players in the world for years. There is a lot of work ahead, but this week could be a real turning point in the competitive dynamics of the Greek.

A week to believe again after many months of turbulence

Tsitsipas' journey over the last year and a half has been marked by an instability that is hard to imagine in a player who once was one of the main contenders to win a Grand Slam. Continuous doubts about his game, changes in his team, the breakdown and subsequent reconciliation with his father as his coach, ups and downs in his relationship with Paula Badosa, a physical condition far from his best, and a worrying competitive stagnation gradually pushed him away from the elite.

Therefore, what happened in Gstaad holds a special significance. Apart from reaching a new ATP final, the Greek is once again conveying enthusiasm, confidence, and the feeling that he is beginning to rediscover a tennis game 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 with laughter. "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 across 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 is 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 a lot. There were ups and downs. I started with a lot of energy, then I dropped a bit while he raised his level. I hit some really good shots, although I didn't manage to do it consistently as I would have liked, especially on 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' discourse, it is the importance of regaining the competitive spirit. After so many months in which he seemed to lose confidence very easily, the Greek believes that this has been the great change of this week.

"The most important thing is to fight. First of all, you have to know how to compete and seize every opportunity, every moment. Regardless of whether you win or lose, you must stay 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 meet them at the hotel shouting my name. There are even many Greek workers here. I did not 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 fully recover my competitive mindset and try to surpass myself once again."

Stefanos Tsitsipas looks to the long term with renewed hopes

After over a year without playing an ATP final, Tsitsipas did not hide the satisfaction of 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 remaining in a tournament."

He also stated that he is beginning to see very positive signs in his tennis. "My tennis is showing very good signs. I feel I can hit shots at a very high level. But I have to keep working on my consistency because my goal is long-term. I want to return to the court every day and keep improving."

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

"I have experienced what it means to be at the top of the rankings, play the final rounds of Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events. I know how much pain and suffering it entails 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 past few months. "I feel that my serve has worked very well in these last few matches. There has been a drop in some aspects during the last months. I have been able to beat Top-10 players this year, but I couldn't maintain that level consistently. For me, that's 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' tennis

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

"It's tough to play here, especially during the first few 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 enhance my game. The altitude benefits my best shots, makes the ball jump 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 say 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 for the incredible effort he put in today."

Now he faces Raphael Collignon, another player who also arrives 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 are going to give it our all out there. I don't expect anything other than a great fight. In a final, you always want to empty yourself completely, and that's exactly what I will 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, he only has to take one final step to complete a week that could mark the true beginning of his sports reconstruction.