ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 17, 2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/D. Evans

6-2, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How was it today? You said off the court that it was more difficult than the score looks. It seemed pretty easy for you from the outside. How was it?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, going into a semifinal against Dan, it isn't easy. He had played some good matches before me, had some good wins.

It seemed like he was, like, in a good shape. I didn't know what to expect. He probably could have changed the tactic against me, probably tried approaching that match a different way.

But I would say it was similar to last time I played him on clay. I knew I had to stay composed, try to do the things the same way I did last time.

It was difficult to play against him because he puts a lot of balls back in. You really sometimes have to force the point to finish it. I made few mistakes here and there, so it wasn't easy.

But I adjusted and things went my way.

Q. It's your first final here. How does it feel to make it to the final? How will you experience that?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, there are a lot of great things that happened in Monaco, talking about my family. I really want to keep this tradition going. We'll see tomorrow. It's important for me to be in the final here in Monaco.

I'm expecting a difficult opponent in the final. Obviously it is important to elevate my game and try and push it to the limits. I really, really want to be in that position where I come close to winning big tournaments like this, like the Rolex Masters here in Monte-Carlo. It's a dream of mine to be playing in the final, honestly.

Q. What kind of great thing happened in Monaco for you?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: What? Excuse me?

Q. What kind of great things happened in Monaco for you? You said a lot of great things happened for you.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I'm going to talk about it tomorrow, if you don't mind. Prefer to talk about it tomorrow.

Q. When you want.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Yes. Something concerning my mom. We'll see tomorrow.

Q. I believe going into these semis you only played two-setters. You had a straightforward win today. Are you feeling pretty fresh going into the finals?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I'm feeling good. I'm feeling energized. I still have plenty of gas and energy left in me. I was able to have all of my matches done in two sets, so that is I would say a big plus. I am happy to be able to play that way, just take it match by match, approach each individual match with the same intensity and energy. That has obviously contributed to that, to be able to finish the matches in two sets, not go to three-setters.

Yeah, let's see tomorrow. I'm really focused for tomorrow. I don't want to be saying more.

Q. May I ask you, how surprised are you to see in the same tournament both Djokovic and Nadal playing so much under their usual standard? Do you think it was because of two months without playing competitive tennis or for other reasons? Because they're getting older and they have more ups and downs than people who are 25?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Everyone likes to think that they're getting older. In fact, they are getting older. It doesn't seem to bother them at all (smiling).

Well, you know, they seem to have been doing well in the past, having big breaks like this. I wouldn't say many of them have been affected by big breaks like this. They seem to be back in shape, the same way consistent like before, despite of having like a two-, three-month break. They seem to be adjusting pretty well to their new conditions with minimal play.

I don't know whether it's that. They always find solutions to everything. That's what makes them the great players and kind of like the legends of our sport. They can handle the situations very well.

But, yeah, you're right. We're kind of used to seeing Djokovic and Nadal go deep in the tournaments, at tournaments. Just let the young guns show what they got, I guess. It's how it should be sometimes. Maybe actually always. It's time for always, not sometimes (laughter).

Q. Tomorrow you will play your first Masters 1000 final with a different opponent than the fab three. Do you feel more pressure for the circumstances?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: It's not so much about that. It's more how much I really want it. That doesn't necessarily add pressure to me. It's just pure determination, willingness to go over the top to get what I want. I don't like to think as it of pressure. I wouldn't call it that way.