Before challenging De Minaur, Tsitsipas confides: "We're human beings"

© AFP

Elio Valotto

le 14/05/2024 à 16h33

2 min to read

Barcelone De Minaur Madrid Monte-Carlo Monteiro Norrie Rome Ruud Struff Tsitsipas

The clay-court season has completely revitalized Stefanos Tsitsipas. After several months of wandering, during which he failed to achieve any benchmark results, the Greek has been reborn. Ejected from the world's top 10 just before the arrival of the ochre, Tsitsipas is now ranked 8th in the world. Winner of the Monte-Carlo title and runner-up in Barcelona (beaten by Ruud), 'Tsitsi' is in fine form in Italy. Surprised from the outset in Madrid (beaten by Monteiro), he wants to bounce back. After a very difficult first match, in which he needed more than 2h30 to defeat Jan-Lennard Struff (6-7, 6-4, 6-4), the Greek was very convincing against Norrie on Monday (6-2, 7-6).

Having shown himself to be very nervous in his first match, the two-time Monte Carlo winner regained his composure in the third round. Asked about this impressive change of attitude, Tsitsipas explains: "Sometimes you have difficult days, even as a tennis player. Many people who have a normal job also go through this kind of day. You have to understand that, as athletes, we also go through emotions. At the end of the day, we're human beings. [...] Today, I was happy to be in a place like this. I think it showed in my tennis. I aim for that kind of feeling every day."

In any case, if Tsitsipas is to continue on his Roman path, he will have to put an end to Alex De Minaur (11th) this Tuesday, not before 7pm. Facing an opponent he has almost always beaten (12 wins to 1 defeat), the Greek will have to be vigilant, however, as the only time he has lost to the Australian was during their last meeting (in Acapulco).