By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday Might 27, 2024
Stefanos Tsitsipas is among the names that retains popping up when individuals focus on the gamers which have an opportunity to steal away with the Roland-Garros males’s singles title this 12 months. No, he’s not a favourite, and the Greek even mentioned so himself on Monday after he took out Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Extra importantly, Tsitsipas isn’t glad.
“After all I would not lie that I have not been completely glad and proud of the way in which my outcomes have proven in the previous few years,” he informed reporters, including that he feels there stays much more for him to realize.
“I really feel like there’s a hole and I may shut that hole much more,” he mentioned. “There are two ways in which I take a look at it. One is like I am a late bloomer and I nonetheless want time to develop into this nice participant that I have not been in a position to actually present.”
25-year-old Tsitsipas has 11 ATP titles and two Grand Slam finals to his identify, along with three Masters 1000 titles and his greatest profession title, which got here on the Nitto ATP Finals in 2019.
He says it’s nice, however not sufficient.
“I’ve had the possibility and privilege to win the Nitto Finals,” he mentioned. “It’s nonetheless my greatest second in tennis. However I nonetheless really feel like there’s extra to it than simply that. I’ve received thrice in Monte-Carlo. It is an ideal feeling to be topped the Masters 1000 champion, however I nonetheless do really feel like there’s far more to realize and attain within the sport, and it would not cease there.”
The No.9-seeded Greek is in Carlos Alcaraz’s quarter of the draw, and will face Andrey Rublev within the spherical of 16 if the seeds maintain. In his subsequent match he’ll face tough German Daniel Altmaier.
La ville de l’amour 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/k6jpIjGmwF
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) Might 27, 2024
In a 12 months the place the boys’s singles draw is extra extensive open than ever in Paris, he says he’s ready for a chance to pounce on.
“I simply look forward to my alternatives,” he mentioned. “I hope they present up, and I hope — there’s clearly plenty of hope, and I hold saying “hope, hope,” however I am focusing on these massive matches that can present up in some unspecified time in the future throughout hopefully this week or subsequent week or the subsequent few months.
“I’m mentally getting ready for these battles, and I do know that these matches are the type of matches that I must get by and maybe write historical past if I’m able to overtake them and win them and seize these moments in a optimistic manner.”
Nonetheless Sees Djokovic Because the Favourite
Tsitsipas, like Casper Ruud, believes that top-seeded Novak Djokovic is the favourite, regardless of his subpar season up to now. Right here’s how he explains his rationale.
“I’d say most likely it is Novak Djokovic remains to be the favourite, as a result of he has received right here [three] occasions,” he mentioned. “Regardless of possibly not the perfect outcomes from his aspect in the previous few weeks when it comes to we have been used to Djokovic successful nearly each week – and it hasn’t occurred in the previous few weeks – I nonetheless think about him the favourite.”
