锡西帕斯: "要想享受成为世界顶尖网球运动员带来的痛苦，必须是一个受虐狂"

Stefanos Tsitsipas will play in 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 spoke in a press conference about what this means for him, as reported by the Greek media 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 World No. 85 and is already guaranteed to rise to the 64th position in the ATP rankings, while a victory in the final against Raphael Collignon would allow him to rise to 51st place.

However, the most valuable aspect of this resurgence seems to go far beyond the points: regaining competitiveness, restoring confidence, and confirming that his tennis is once again approaching the level that made him one of the world's best players for years. There is still much work to be done, 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' 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. Continuous doubts about his game, changes in his team, the rupture and subsequent reconciliation with his father as a coach, fluctuations in his relationship with Paula Badosa, a physical condition far from his best version, and a worrying competitive stagnation gradually distanced him from the elite.

Therefore, what happened in Gstaad holds a special significance. Beyond reaching a new ATP final, the Greek is once again conveying enthusiasm, confidence, and the sense that he is beginning to rediscover a tennis that had been hidden for too long. He himself admitted that the match against Alexander Shevchenko was full of surprises.

"I broke a racket, almost broke my leg... twice," he joked amidst laughter. "It was a very fun day, full of adventures. Honestly, something like this had never happened to me before. 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 leave 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 with the consistency 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 major change 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 is 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 emphasize the fantastic atmosphere he has been experiencing all 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 now that I have managed to reach the final. Tomorrow, I will fully regain my competitive mentality and try to surpass myself once again."

Stefanos Tsitsipas looks to the long term with renewed aspirations

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."

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 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 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 world's best for years.

"I have experienced what it means to be at the top of the ranking, play the final rounds of Grand Slam and Masters 1000. I know how much pain and suffering it entails to do it constantly. Believe me, it is not pleasant. You have to be a little 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-critique about the past few months. "I feel 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 very good, but you have to keep doing it day after day."

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

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

"It is difficult to play here, especially during the first few days. I came from Montecarlo, at sea level, and now I am in the mountains. It is hard to get used to the bounce of the ball, but I think these conditions improve my game. The altitude benefits my best shots, makes the ball bounce a bit more, and those of us with a powerful 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 an extremely close semi-final. "It was a great battle. I think we both played very well, and it's a pity 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."

Now he awaits Raphael Collignon, another player who also arrives physically challenged 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 will go out there to give it our all. I don't expect anything other than a great fight. In a final, you always want to leave everything out there, and that is 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, all that remains is for him to take one last step to complete a week that could mark the true beginning of his sporting reconstruction.