#NEXTGEN Focus: Stefano Tsitsipas

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By Scoop Malinowski
Here is the second edition of our new #NEXTGEN Focus series on the 19-year-old Athens, Greece player Stefano Tsitsipas. Stefano is ranked 161 in the world right now and won his first round US Open qualifying match in three sets today against China’s Wu.
Stefano’s dad and coach Apostolos reveals insights into Stefano’s first full ATP season after a standout ITF junior career…
“We started the year after an injury with a ranking of 210. At the first Grand Slam – Australian Open – I couldn’t say he was very well prepared and he achieved a second round of qualies (Def. Gavin Van Peperzeel 62 62, lost to Bjorn Fratangelo 64 16 36). After that, we tried to reorganize ourselves,” said Apostolos Tsitsipas at the US Open today. “It was a better preparation. And then we started to play the indoor season in Europe – Sofiam Rotterdam, Marseilles. Two wildcards into main draw. There we played good match with Tsonga. It was a good match (46 67 loss). But at the end of the match he felt a pain in his Psorias (groin area), a little bit injured. So we passed it, now he’s top 160 I think.”
“He qualified for Roland Garros (Wins over Otte, Sakarov, Fabbiano then loss to Karlovic in first round 67 57 46) and Wimbledon (Dwe Joore, Hanfmann, Giraldo, lost first round to Lajovic 46 46 46). Had some good matches there and good experience for the future. And I think now he’s stronger physically. And I’m sure that by the end of the year, he has a lot more to give, much more than the beginning, for sure.”
Tsitsipas has two wins this year against young Aussie Alex DeMinaur, a win over Benjamin Becker and also a tight 64 46 76 win against top 50 Jiri Vesely in Rome. “He has some wins against top hundred guys. Still he has a lot of job to do. Now he has to build his body, he has to do the physical part more serious. He has to make better preparations. I think he has the game. It’s not enough nowadays – the game has become so physical. Not only when you’re stepping on the court to play the match, the Tour itself is so demanding – you have to defend always points, tournaments, it’s crazy. It’s a big discussion now. It’s really exhausting for the players. It’s exhausting for the top players. When you’re talking about the younger player, that one coming from the lower ranking, they have to play more tournaments and it’s really very, very tough. Very, very tough. And so that’s why Stefano’s body has to be 100%.”
Tsitsipas, 2-7 in ATP main tour main draws this year, has played two Grand Slam main draws and is nearing the top 150. But the goals of Team Tsitsipas are more basic in nature. “Yes, top 100 is one of the goals for 2017. My opinion is win a lot of matches. And perform. Perform his best. Learn how to perform. And if he learn how to perform his best, he will reach all his goals. And the ranking, and the titles. And whatever is concerning the best for every tennis player.”

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Hartt writes:

Scoop, thanks for this piece - I always enjoy hearing about Stefano. It sounds like he is on the right track and I hope he does make top 100 this season.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Hartt; Glad you liked the feature. I hope to do a Biofile with Stef if he wins tomorrow. Just did a Biofile with Casper Ruud.

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Hartt writes:

Was so glad to see Tsitsipas get the win over Berrettini today, but what a roller coaster! 6-7, 7-6, 7-6. I was watching on live scores and it seemed like the match would never end - it was very nerve-wracking. I read that he faces Mahut next - that could be a terrific match.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Hartt; I was there for the third set of Tsitsipas vs Berrettini and it was probably the match of the day. Tsitsipas was up 3-0 in the third and then 5-4 with triple match point on the serving Italian but he couldn't finish it! After losing that game he had to change an orange adidas shoe because he popped a shoe lace! (on the deuce point which gave Berrettini the game point.) Berrettini is very good for a guy I never heard of before. Especially strong two hander up the line passing shots but he can do everything including volley. He's 21 so he has a bright future. Tsitsipas had to work and barely held on to hold for 65 and then Berrettini managed to hold a tough game also for 66 but then Tsitsipas managed to fight off the frustration of blowing the three match points earlier and earned a 6-2 lead and then finished it out. Tsitsipas is a silky smooth artist, stands 6-4 or more, and is coahced by his dad and it seems Moratouglou who was there watching. It was the last match of the day and it was packed. Great way to end the day, or night, it was 8:40 when we looked at our phones after exiting the mini stadium court 13.

 

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jg writes:

I watched the first set and Berrettini can blast the ball, Tsitsipas was having trouble with the pace, he must have figured it out.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

jg: Yes he sure does rip the ball. Like an Italian Gabashvili, skinny with long arms and kind of a gangly mover but he can motor around the court and strike winners from just about anywhere. I'm curious to see where he goes from here. Not sure if Tsitsipas figured Berrettini out or if he merely survived

 

[TFBlogGuest]

Gene writes:

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[herios]

Tsitsipas defeated Goffin, the top seed in Antwerpen his biggest win of his career.
He will make the top 100 comes next week.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Herios; Absolutely monumental win by young Tsitsipas. He has officially declared to the ATP world that he is for real and is a force to be reckoned with. He also beat Karlovic this week which is another huge win because Ivo's ranking is falling to outside top 50 so Ivo was hungry and desperate to collect some ATP points to fix his poor by his standards ranking. I swa Tsitsipas lose in the last round of US Open qualies in three sets to Mahut who ended up having a nice run in the US Open main draw. Tsitsipas is still very young and coltish looking, so when he matures physically and gets more experience with the ATP Tour Level he will surely do some big things. I am so impressed by Schwartzman who can pop the top ten in my opinion. Two dominant wins this year over Ferrer tells us all we need to know about Diego Schwartzman.

 

[herios]

Tsitsipas continues to play well. This week in Brest on the Challenger tour, he reached the finals, after beating 2 top 100 players, Chardy and Copil.

 

[herios]

Tsitsipas loses the final in Brest, but what is interesting is his opponent was an even younger player, 18y old Moutet from France.
Moutet is another player to watch next year.

 

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Scoop Malinowski writes:

Moutet has declared himself with this win because Tsitsipas was red hot. How about Tommy Robredo playing first round this week in the Challenger against sixteen year old Rudolph Molleker. Yuozhny has just won his second straight Challenger. Three years ago a Russian journo in DC was telling me Youzhny was thinking of quitting every month. But he's still out there and putting up strong results. What an underrated unsung player Youzhny is, though he never has beaten Roger.

 

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Very good debut from Tsitsipas this season. Got through in the qualifications in Doha, the defeated Florian Mayer and today Gasquet.
I am watching him closely, looks like he will be doing some waves. I

 

[scoop]

Scoop Malinowski writes:

Tsitsipas is ready to win ATP titles now. I would even dare to say Tsitsipas at 19 today looked even better than Fed did at 19 in 2000. More mature, more composed. Okay now don't shoot me!