ROLAND GARROS

June 6, 2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/P. Carreno Busta

6-3, 6-2, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: We can talk about even things that don't have to do with tennis.

Q. You played him twice before, had good wins over him previously. How much of a factor was that coming into the match with the convincing way you were playing against him?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: What was the question again? I didn't catch up.

Q. How important were your previous encounters with him where you'd beaten him pretty well coming into today's match, the impact that might have had?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I remember having faced him before. I think every single match that I had against him was a learning experience. I had high expectations from him, and that's a good thing, going into the match having high expectations than your opponent might play.

I think I also had a great start, very good start, where I didn't let him attack a lot. I actually gave him not that much space to get going. My performance was good. I was very mentally there in every single game. Whether I was serving or not, I was very concentrated in the procedure, in the process. I did my thing the way I did it.

Q. Can we look ahead to your matchup in the quarterfinals with Daniil. You guys have played many times. After your last match in Australia, you said he serves a little bit like John Isner. Do you think it will help you that you faced Isner a couple rounds ago and had to deal with that pressure?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: He does serve extremely well, I have to say. He has improved over the years with his serve. This is going to be something that I will have to face. Of course, myself playing well, I feel like I don't have to think against who I'm facing or not, I just have to play my game, let the rest be witnessed.

Q. When did you hear the news about Roger Federer withdrawing from the tournament and what your reaction was to that bit of news today?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: First of all, I didn't hear the news. I just got the news from you.

My reaction is: Wow. I don't know what he had. I don't know whether that was an injury that had him out of the tournament or not, but...

Q. Fatigue.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: You know, he was playing well. I saw some of his games a little bit, not too much. I felt like his body was there and he was able to play some good tennis, consistent. I'm surprised.

Q. I have a question about your physical shape, which seems much higher than Roger's. You play a lot on the tour. I think you're probably the guy who played the most clay tournaments and clay matches this season. How do you feel before what could be three very big matches? How do you manage your physical shape?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: The what?

Q. Your physical shape, your physical work.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I feel good. That's what I have to tell you.

Q. You've had a great season coming into Roland Garros. What do you think you're going to need to do to defeat Daniil next, a guy that's given you trouble in your previous seven matchups?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Play good tennis.

Q. You're a deep thinker about tennis and all aspects of life. Do you think you play your best tennis when you're thinking a lot on the court or when you're hardly thinking at all and you're just in the moment?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Good question.

I think I've played some of my best tennis when I don't think much on court, when everything is being done automatically, on autopilot. I felt also my performance at the top. So, yes, less thinking, more action.

Q. Over the last couple of years you're getting to this business end of majors a lot more frequently. I would assume you're way more comfortable at this stage of one of these big events. When you get to this point of a tournament, do you feel as if a different psyche takes over, a different mental attitude, that your personality changes? How do you see it going from, like, the first week to a second week of a major?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I think it just adapt and get used to things. In the beginning you're not, I would say, fully in the thing yet. You try and see what things work, the surface, the balls and everything. Of course, you might have some knowledge from the previous years that you've played there.

But in Grand Slams, it's all about the endurance and being able to show up and do your job once every two days and do it well. Of course, you have to show up for work every single day, whether that's a practice or a match.

It's demanding. It takes a lot of attention, a lot of effort. I've actually grew up into loving that process and wanting to repeat that. It's a process that can be very demanding, but that's what our sport is all about. That's what makes our sport so spectacular.