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

Tim Henman believes Stefanos Tsitsipas has “stagnated” and does not think the Greek will win a Grand Slam title unless he improves after his 2024 Australian Open exit.

Mats Wilander identified Tsitsipas’ backhand as an “obvious weakness” and drew a comparison with when tennis great Roger Federer ended a major drought in 2017 by making adjustments to his game.

Tsitsipas was defeated in four sets by world No 12 Taylor Fritz in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday – his earliest loss at the tournament since 2020. It was also just the second time Tsitsipas did not make at least the semi-finals in Melbourne in his last six appearances.

The world No 7 has reached two Grand Slam finals – losing to Novak Djokovic in both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open championship matches.

The Greek led by two sets to love in the Roland Garros final, before the Serb made a superb comeback. The 25-year-old was then defeated in three tight sets sets by Djokovic at the Melbourne Grand Slam last year.

Following his superb Australian Open run last year, Tsitsipas went on to have a slightly disappointing season for his high standards in 2023, with injury issues playing a role.

Following Tsitsipas’ defeat to Fritz, former world No 4 Henman argued that Tsitsipas must develop his game to contend for major titles again.

“I think he can [get back to his best] but I think the word I’d use right now is he’s stagnated. When I think about how well he’s played in the past, he’s been in Slam finals and I feel his game over the last 12 months hasn’t improved,” the six-time Grand Slam semi-finalist told Eurosport.

“If you have stagnated and you’ve stayed the same, you haven’t got worse but the other players have got better. You think about [Carlos] Alcaraz, [Jannik] Sinner, [Holger] Rune and these types of players I think have overtaken him.

“Actions speak louder than words. I’m pleased he’s saying maybe this is the wake-up call, that there’s evolution and change.

“But he’s the one that’s got to go out there and make that happen. Because if it doesn’t, he’s still a good player but in terms of making a final or winning a major, it’s not going to happen for me.”

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Wilander expressed that the situation Tsitsipas is in “reminds him of the great Roger Federer” 12 years ago.

“He (Federer) won his 17th Grand Slam title in 2012, but didn’t win another for four years. Went to a bigger racquet, started playing closer to the baseline and won the Australian Open in 2017 and in 2018, won Wimbledon as well,” the former world No 1 recalled.

“So it happens to everybody, it’s hard to make changes if you keep being successful. It’s obvious his backhand is a weakness, but how does he change that, I’m not sure.”

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