‘Stefanos Tsitsipas has stagnated and needs a change’, says former world No 9
Former world No 9 Andrea Petkovic believes Stefanos Tsitsipas needs to make a change because he has “stagnated over the last year in his game.”
The German, who retired in 2022, also declared that the Greek star possesses “one of the best forehands I have ever seen in my entire life.”
Tsitsipas holds a healthy 39-14 record in 2023, but has arguably not looked at his best for much of the season. The world No 4 won his first 10 matches of the year and was a runner-up at the Australian Open in January, losing to Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
The 24-year-old downed Alex De Minaur in straight sets last week to win the ATP 250 event in Los Cabos – his first ATP title in 14 months. He had lost five straight finals since winning in Mallorca last year.
The Greek then fell to a routine 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Gael Monfils in his opening match at the ongoing ATP Masters 1000 event in Toronto earlier this week.
Speaking on an episode of Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast, Petkovic suggested what Tsitsipas could change something in his approach.
“I do feel Tsitsipas needs a change in his – I don’t know if it’s in his coaching team, or if he just has to give a little bit more power to Mark Philippoussis, who is now back in the team,” said the German.
“It’s just, he has stagnated over the last year in his game and I know that he wants to play well. And he has really one of the best forehands I have ever seen in my entire life.
“Not only the way he hits it and how he can generate pace and spin and rotation, but also how quickly he runs up to the ball when he does have a short ball – [that has] really never been seen before I think. Maybe Roger [Federer] can do it the same way.
“So I really hope that he evolves the other side of his game. Maybe incorporates the slice a bit more – like Roger used to do – so he gets the time to run around and use his forehand.”
Tsitsipas is set to compete at the Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati next week, where he will play either Ben Shelton or Chris Eubanks in his first match. The 24-year-old was a runner-up in Cincinnati last year, losing to Borna Coric.
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