ATP CUP

January 3, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Team Greece

Press Conference

D. SCHWARTZMAN/S. Tsitsipas

6-7, 6-3, 6-3

Team Argentina - 2

Team Greece - 0

THE MODERATOR: Tough loss, but was it a good test to see where you're at physically?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Yeah, it was good to see myself perform at such a level. I didn't expect it. It worked out better than I thought. I was able to hit balls that I was scared to hit two weeks ago, so heading towards the right direction.

It was a very close match, and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it despite losing again. I enjoyed fighting. I enjoyed the thrill of it. I enjoyed the atmosphere that the people created.

Q. How would you say the arm is feeling right now?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I'm in a little bit of pain. That's normal. I served more serves than I have ever served at the last one month. I served not even -- near 180 serves today I think. I have been practicing, trying to get 50, 60 serves in, and today I really went far.

Yeah, the fatigue at the end, but, you know, I tried to avoid the pain. Got to finish the match somehow.

Q. Was there anything out there that you could not do tonight that you would have wanted to because of the arm?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: My serve. My serve dropped a lot. When I'm in a lot -- the percentages were not good. I saw them later, and I was unable. I was unable to -- I was just unable. I don't like excuses. I don't like excuses. But I was not at 100% to serve the serves that I wanted the more the match proceeded. And I really wish now I could have avoided the pain and served better, because it would have helped me a lot.

Q. I was just interested to ask about Alexander Zverev saying that he thought that new big three was...

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I cannot hear you. What are you saying?

Q. I was interested to hear your thoughts on Zverev's comments last week or the week before that he thought the new big three was Djokovic, himself, and Medvedev, which is fair enough, considering they are the top three, but you have reached Grand Slam finals and beaten all these guys many times before. I'm just wondering where you feel you fill in the picture and if you find that a little bit harsh at all?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Let tennis do the talking.

Q. Yeah, so clearly you're confident that you're very much part of that big equation? Is there a big four, et cetera, at least?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Look, we have a long year ahead of us. Let us all play our best tennis, and let's see who is the one that deserves it at the end of the year.

Q. It's obviously been a tough start of the season for you. Couple of losses. But you have pointed out that you have some injuries and whatnot. What's your hopes for the Australian Open? Are you hoping you'll be fully fit and able to contend for the title there again?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I don't know what my future plans are for this tournament. I'm not really sure. I'd love to play, but I really don't know how I'm going to feel tomorrow. That was one of the biggest concerns if I'm going to play this match today, how is the recovery going to be tomorrow, which was the issue with the doubles. I finished the doubles, next day I couldn't serve. I was unable. I was in a lot of pain.

So I'm really hoping to be able to walk on court tomorrow and practice some serves without pain. That's my biggest goal right now, to have 100% recovery on my elbow, which I have done lots of things in the last couple of weeks to try and protect it as much as I can and get it to 100% again. So focus on my health and well-being more than any other thing right now.

Q. How concerned are you about the serving aspect going into the Australian Open?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: The serving aspect?

Q. Yeah. I mean, you're saying the serve let you down to a degree tonight. On that score, how concerned are you?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Look, I mean, it gets better and better every single day almost. I can see an increase of it getting better.

It let me down today. My serve did let me down today, but I think we have plenty of time before the Australian Open begins, and I think if I take the right precautions and follow what my doctor says, then I can see myself performing at 100% at the Australian Open.

Going into that surgery, even the doctor was unsure if it's a good idea to perform and play the Australian Open. My recovery was much better than he would have expected in comparison with some other players that he has treated in the past, so he was surprised. He came to Dubai and he was surprised to see me hitting almost close to 100%.

I guess I don't know. Good genes, DNA, I don't know.

Q. Is there any risk, do you think, at this point of you not playing?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Not playing where?

Q. Australian Open.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: How many days do we have?

Q. We've got two weeks, yeah.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: That is enough, I believe. But I haven't had one before, so I don't know. It's my first time experiencing something like this.