ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 10, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have our defending champion. Stefanos, how does it feel to defend your first Masters 1000 title?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, feeling great. Starting with the tournament here in Monte-Carlo, it feels home to me playing on this court and having the opportunity this year to play in front of people and a big, massive crowd coming from both Italy and France.

I have some supporters in Monaco. I have family here. It's great sharing this with them, and getting good weather hopefully all week long and a good series of tennis matches.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. You practiced yesterday with Stan Wawrinka? You had some very tough games with him before he was injured. How did you saw him yesterday?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I think that's a question that you should be asking him, not me.

Q. You were in front of him; I wasn't.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I have seen him definitely play better. Having practiced with him in the past, he can play good tennis, Stan. On his best days, he's someone that can step on the court and do a lot of good things out there from everywhere around the court.

But honestly, I feel like I have seen him better in the past, but I don't think anyone should be judging based on that, because he's just right off his surgery and you cannot be playing at 100% straightaway. It's not really possible, to be honest with you.

Q. I have a little bit of a general question for you, if I may. After this season of COVID restrictions and all kinds of travel restrictions that you as players have been navigating, how has now become this part of your routine? What do you think coming to France from the U.S.? Has been changing? Are you feeling better about all of it? How is it amongst you players and you personally?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: It hasn't been the best adjustment, is never the best adjustment coming from the States back to Europe. It's always actually the worst kind of adjustment during the entire season I think coming back from Miami.

You go to sleep at 6:00 in the evening and end up waking up at 3:00 in the morning. That is something that I was going through for few days now, but thankfully I'm out of this routine now already few days now, mostly the adaptation in terms of sleep and practice because, you know, you are in the middle of the day and you're pretty much exhausted.

But I like the transition of hard to clay. I enjoy switching from hard courts to clay courts. I think it's a little bit different doing vice versa, but I always love coming back to the academy where I train and change my shoes and go back to the clay. It's a good feeling.