Stefanos Tsitsipas doubles down on two major goals and makes honest claim about his father’s role

Ewan West
Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates 2024 Australian Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas reacts at the 2024 Australian Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas has doubled down on his goals to win a Grand Slam title and an Olympic medal in the 2024 season and highlighted his desire to partner his brother Petros at the Paris Games.

The Greek star also expressed how important he feels his father and coach Apostolos is to his career by asserting “a part of my identity as a player is lost” when he is without him.

Tsitsipas was beaten in four sets by world No 9 Taylor Fritz in the fourth round of the 2024 Australian Open – his earliest defeat at the tournament since 2020. It was only the second time Tsitsipas did not make at least the semi-finals in Melbourne in his last six appearances.

The world No 10 has reached two Grand Slam finals – losing to Novak Djokovic in both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open title matches.

The 25-year-old led by two sets to love in the Roland Garros final, before the great Serb made a superb comeback. The Greek was then defeated in three tight sets sets by Djokovic in the Australian Open championship match last year.

On his only appearance at the Olympics, Tsitsipas was downed by Ugo Humbert in three sets in the last 16 in Tokyo at the 2020 Games – which were held in 2021.

The tennis event at the 2024 Olympics will be held on the clay courts of Roland Garros – with the slow red dirt arguably Tsitsipas’ best surface.

READ MORE: ‘I don’t see Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev lifting a Grand Slam’

Tsitsipas is set to compete for Greece in their Davis Cup World Group I Play-offs tie against Romania in Athens this weekend. The 25-year-old will take on Marius Copil in his first singles rubber on Saturday.

In an interview with ERT ahead of his Davis Cup appearance, Tsitsipas divulged that he stood by the goals he declared he had set for himself ahead of this year.

“My goal this year is to win a Grand Slam and an Olympic medal. It means a lot to me. Competing alongside Petros, my brother, in the Olympic Games in Paris is one of the dreams of my life,” the Greek explained.

Tsitsipas also discussed the role of his father Apostolos as his coach, something which has been criticised by some analysts and observers.

“My father and I have always had tennis as an element in common, it was something of ours, that we have always shared. When he is not with me, I feel that a part of my identity as a player is lost,” the 25-year-old said.

“On different occasions in the past, he was with me and I felt like he was half the player. Sometimes I don’t speak too well of him, but he’s the only person who understands me, and that’s part of the job. The good thing is that we can separate the father aspect from the facet as a coach.”

Apostolos Tsitsipas spoke about the dynamic between his sons – Stefanos and Petros Tsitsipas – who are set to play doubles together against Romania.

“The relationship between the two is increasingly stronger, especially now that they can play together. They want to achieve things they have dreamed of and I think they are on the right path,” he said.

Petros Tsitsipas also gave his thoughts on the partnership: “What makes us very strong together, as a couple, is that Stefanos is a super athlete and I, for my part, am a player who has very good vision on the court.”

READ MORE: Tim Henman makes honest Stefanos Tsitsipas claim as Roger Federer comparison is made