WESTERN & SOUTHERN OPEN

August 20, 2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/L. Sonego

5-7, 6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Great match today, intense match, lots of ups-and-downs. How did you feel out there today?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Great obstacle to overcome. Things were not easy out there, and keeping the fight alive and going for an aggressive game style was the sort of game that got me out of the situation that I was forced to face today. I think it was a great showcase of kind of fighting and kind of winning ugly at the same time.

It was a match in which I had to find solutions all the time. Coming in, take the ball a bit more early, that is something that definitely helped me get a greater control of the game. That's it.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. A tough three-set win. Thoughts on your next match tomorrow night against Felix? I think you most recently played in Barcelona?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Yeah. Well, the conditions, the surface and the conditions are different. He's someone that grew up playing one hard courts. I'm up for that challenge, and I want to be able to show great determination and consistency.

He's someone that plays really well, and I always find it challenging trying to come up with different kind of patterns and solutions against him, so I think starting strong and trying to dictate the game from early on would be of much importance.

Q. Felix had won the first two matches against you on tour and you've won the next four. What do you think has been the biggest change for you in those most recent matches?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: You know, I'm striving to get better each single year. You know, things have kind of been in my favor, that is true, yes, but each single match that I have played against him wasn't easy.

It's not that I find it easy playing against him. It's just, you know, few small moments that would determine the outcome of that match and details in which I was able to maybe, you know, kind of execute a better game plan than my opponent.

So, you know, different day, different environment, different ambition.

Q. What do you see as the biggest challenge he presents?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, his serve, for sure. Serving big. He has one of the, I think on the tour, one of the best first few shots after the serve. Gotta stick to that and be 100% there when getting returns into play.

Q. He was just saying that it's his second time making it this far in a Masters 1000, the first time everything clicked. He didn't realize how tough it would be. What's it take from your experience to make deep runs in these sort of events? It's a different feel from a Grand Slam where you have more days off and such?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Yeah, there is a lot of intensity back to back, and you always have to be physically prepared for playing difficult matches, having to face opponents that want to bring the best out of their game in those events.

Personally, speaking from my experience, I have tried sticking to what I do best and staying consistent and just, you know, trying to perfect my patterns and the way I kind of evaluate the game, because, you know, it's a week of tennis and you want to be able to feel as fresh as possible. At the same time, be able to adjust accordingly and have plan Bs and plan Cs if they have to be shown up.