US OPEN

September 2, 2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/A. Mannarino

6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Would you give us your thoughts on the match.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I had a great start on the first and second set, taking the lead early. Did everything tactically kind of correct. Had gained that momentum from the beginning of both sets. It felt like I was just comfortable, performing at my best. Those breaks, I think they came without too much struggle and effort. I just did the right things at the right time. That gave me the lead from early on.

In the third I had difficulties to kind of find that game, that momentum, as I did in the first and second. I think he also kind of loosened up a little bit, started playing a bit more careless, and things were kind of working in his favor more than they did for me.

The tiebreak was a close, very close, battle, in which he prevailed I think having less unforced errors than me.

I think that break on the third set helped me refresh myself, as I like to do. It's good for me to be less sweaty and feel fresh, start a new set with a fresh mindset, recalibrate myself.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What did you think about what Andy Murray said the other day?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I said that we should both discuss it, the two of us, because I followed the rules. I didn't break anything, any rules. I think there is rule for that which really doesn't specify the time that you have to spend in the bathroom.

It is important to take it if you have to.

Q. (No microphone.)

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: It is important. First of all, you carry less weight on you with all the sweat. You feel rejuvenated, you feel fresh, and you don't have all the sweat bothering you and coming in your face, on your fingers, everywhere all over your body. It makes you feel better.

For me it is important to take that break. For someone else probably not. And everyone has his own time. I try and be as quick as I can. Sometimes I just need a bit more time. That's all.

Q. The crowd was booing again tonight when you came back. After the talk from Andy and a couple other players, did you think of going faster?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Sure.

Q. You still took more than seven minutes tonight in the break.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I would like to know, what's the rule?

Q. Regardless of the rule, you know people are not happy.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Yeah, but the rules are there to be followed, no? If I break a rule, sure, I'm guilty. I agree, I'm not doing something right. If I'm staying within the guidelines, then what's the issue?

Q. I guess with what people like Murray would say, there are unwritten rules about trying to be respectful of the opponent's time, which maybe they think you're not being respectful of that.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Okay.

THE MODERATOR: I'm going allow the question but we're not going to belabor this. He answered this now.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I have a question for you. I don't watch other people's business. But I remember watching it when I was younger. Can you please check when Andy Murray faced Novak Djokovic at the final here, before the fifth set, that break, can you please look it up and let me know next time?

Q. I did. He took less than three minutes.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Less than three minutes, okay.

Q. I looked it up.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Okay. So three minutes more make a difference?

Q. He thought so. It's a question of clearly you're doing something that is upsetting your peers.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Okay.

THE MODERATOR: Can we move on now?

Q. What kind of match do you expect against Carlos your next round?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: He's a young talent that has been doing very well recently. He's been constantly improving, getting up in the rankings. I think he is someone that has a good game for all surfaces.

Me personally, I want to play the best of my game against him. I see him as a potential contender in the future for Grand Slam titles and other big events.

Q. Did it bother you to hear the boos from the fans when you came back out?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I haven't done anything wrong, so I don't understand. The people love the sport, they come to watch tennis. I have nothing against them. I love the fans.

But some people don't understand. That's all. They don't understand. They haven't played tennis at high level to understand how much effort and how much difficult it is to do what we are doing.

Sometimes we need a short break to do what we have to do.

Q. Who do you listen to for advice on these sorts of things? You're getting criticism from somebody like Andy Murray, a very established player. You don't really seem to listen to that or you disagree with that.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I don't disagree with that.

Q. You seem like you're disagreeing. I'm curious, who are your influences right now?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I have no influence by anyone. It's just my personal needs. Some people have other needs. Some players take, as we know, much more than 25 seconds between points, which is fair. Please tell me it's fair. It has happened. That is true.

I don't have anything against any player, and I never complain of what other players do. Since a young kid, my parents have taught me not to watch other people's business, and concentrate on myself, do my job.

I just don't understand when some players go and criticize other players, or during a match they put too much emphasis on it. The game is the game. It's not going to change much even if...

I just don't understand. That's all.

Like, I've done everything the right way. If I haven't, I should be penalized. I completely agree with it. I should get a fine or penalized if I haven't followed whatever I've done correctly. But as far as I know, you know, it is a necessity, it is a need when I'm out there playing, performing.

Q. Just to change the subject a little bit. I wanted to ask you about a really great initiative at the US Open today, which is Pride Day. There have been a number of openly gay players on the WTA Tour over the years, but that's not been the case on the ATP Tour. As someone who has been part of that tour for quite a few years now, do you think the culture of the tour is such that it would be a safe space for someone to come out?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I think so. They would be supported, for sure. I don't know how it is in other sports. I see no reason, for example, a tour like the ATP not to accept something like this.

Q. Just wanted to ask you about the rain. I don't know if you looked outside at all or had a chance to see it.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I heard, yes.

Q. Flooding, all of that. Even during the match sitting in the stands, it sounded very loud. Did it distract you at all?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I could hear it. At first I thought it was the crowd, just people talking on the back seats. Now that you told me, I just realized it was not the crowd, it was the rain. Just a lot of noise coming from up there.

Well, regardless of that, I don't know, I mean, I do have a bed here, so I might have a sleepover here tonight.