Father of Stefanos Tsitsipas finds a word to describe his son after Monte Carlo heroics

It seemed as if Stefanos Tsitsipas had lost his way after a challenging 12 months on the ATP Tour, but he roared back to winning ways with a thrilling victory in the Monte Carlo Masters.

Tsitsipas brushed aside Casper Ruud to claim his third Monte-Carlo Masters title in four years, with the Greek star took just an hour and 37 minutes to see off his Norwegian opponent 6-1 6-4 on Court Rainier III.

Ruud dispatched world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals but he could not repeat the feat as Tsitsipas once again produced his best tennis in the principality.

The title winner, who has had to overcome a back problem, told the ATP Tour’s official website: “It has been very difficult, so to be back on the podiums, winning tournaments just feels amazing.

“I can’t thank my family enough and friends – and if there is God out there – for making this moment possible. I am extremely grateful for every person behind this journey.

“The third time is even more special than the first or second time. This is an unbelievable win for me. Capturing that win today was nerve-wracking. I really wanted this trinity. I am extremely happy today.”

While the player on the court always takes the plaudits for a big success, the team off the court are also crucial to any triumph and Tsitsipas was quick to thank his travelling comrades that included his father and coach, Apostolos.

Many critics have suggested Apostolos is not a positive influence on his son and a coach with a more successful winning record may help to take him to the next level.

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Yet the win in Monte Carlo silenced that theory for now, with Apostolos suggesting he played a big role in helping Stefanos back onto the top step of the winners’ podium.

“I never had a doubt he would play this level. For sure never had a doubt, but, you know, Stefanos, he’s a dreamer,” said Apostolos.

“I could say that also he’s still young in his soul, in his mind.

“As every young person, you know, they need to believe in life, they need to believe in the targets they put. That’s why we are there, to remind them that they deserve to be whatever they are.

“I think this one of the best tournaments he did so far from the coaching perspective.

“I could say that the level was, yes, one of his best on clay courts.

“There were some moments that he was in the zone, as we say in tennis, and he managed to stay there for sometimes for very long time, which is really very beautiful. Hopefully we gonna see that in the future again, and then we will see some great tennis from Stefanos.

“I could say that he deserves congratulations for this week, for his win, and also congratulations for the cooperation he did with the team, with me, because that’s a very, very important aspect, because I’m not only his coach, I’m a father.

“He was very professional. He had great cooperation. When you are aware what you are doing in the practice, it comes out in the tennis court, in the matches.”

For his part, Stefanos suggested he is now playing at a better level than when he won the Monte Carlo Masters in 2021 and 2022.

“If I have to compare my level of tennis with the last two times that I have won here, I would probably say this time has been the best that I have come up with some incredible tennis,” he stated.

“I say that because, well, you can easily say, Stef, you won the first time here without dropping a set, wouldn’t that be the best performance that you have had in Monte Carlo?

“I would tell you not exactly. I had an opponent in the semifinal that is a world-class tennis player right now who refused to lose to anyone, and he’s been on a very good streak. So overcoming that obstacle, it’s definitely a sign that my tennis is progressing and I’m able to push those players.”