INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 15, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/S. Tsitsipas

6-0, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Stefanos, please.

Q. I saw it was the first time in your career that you ever lost a first set 6-Love. I'm wondering how you were able to reset and start so well in the second set.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Never thought about it.

Just trying to stay in the match as much as I can. It's about finding solutions. Just trying to find solutions on the second set. Such a shame. I was serving for the second set. I think I had chances of even going a double break up.

I also kind of felt like, you know, a little bit of extra energy that you need to make it, to finish the second set, it was not really there. I was looking for it. I was pushing myself to get to that point.

I don't know, he played really well. He started amazing. He played great tennis. Really closing the gap in most of the shots. Behind every single ball. Incredible handling of every single ball, not giving away any unforced errors.

Q. Do you think the light was very bad? You were hitting a lot of balls with the frame. There were shadows. I thought you couldn't see too well the ball. Novak played some balls with the frame. Did that bother you a lot even psychologically? The first set was also somehow a problem for you because you couldn't adjust to what was going on?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: No one likes that. I'm sure if you ask him, he doesn't like it either.

I know it's a situation that both players have to deal with, but it's not comfortable to be playing this way at all. You lose the ball. I got a few serves down the T that I was very late on seeing after the shot was made.

I don't know what they can do. I mean, it's this time of the year where the sun is this way. I don't know. It kind of has to be resolved because I had the same issues in my match with Sinner. Zverev I somehow managed. I probably dealt with it better.

It doesn't make for better tennis, for sure. When you have such a shade covering half of the court, having another one somewhere in another corner, it makes for a very weird eyesight. It doesn't happen very often on the tour. I haven't seen it in a lot of places.

Is it the same in Pietrangeli?

Q. It depends on the time.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Maybe from the statues.

Q. Last week everybody was talking about Alcaraz. Now Novak is back. You've had a great clay season. Who is the favorite for Roland Garros?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Right now Carlos Alcaraz. Too many names. Rights now Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic. They both play great, great tennis. I would put them as favorites.

Right now I need to improve a few things in my game. I don't know if I'm going to get there, but I hope I do with my hard work by the time Roland Garros begins.

I'd love myself to get around with these players and be there with them. But I will really need to put a bit more attention to detail in the next couple of weeks.

Q. Do you feel like you're close? French Open final last year, Monte-Carlo win again this year. On paper you should be pretty close.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: On paper, yes. On paper.

It's a marathon that I have to run. Roland Garros is a marathon Grand Slam. Every Grand Slam is a marathon Grand Slam, but specifically Roland Garros. It really takes the most out of you spiritually and physically when you're out on the court. Clay court has this ability to really squeeze every single part of you. You have to leave it, your all, out there.

I'm ready to get a few days of rest and start practicing again to get into that Roland Garros mindset. I enjoy playing in this city. I really hope my tennis allows me to go deep this year.

Q. I wanted to ask you about the trophy ceremony and the comments that you made. Were you planning to say those sorts of the things to Novak?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Which things?

Q. You hope someday you get to be his level, get that kind of consistency. He had some nice comments for you. What did you make of the exchange between the two of you during the ceremony?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Novak is a great champion. I have so much respect for him. Every single decision he has made, I understand it, even the ones in the past. I support them.

I think he's a very wise person and he knows exactly what he's doing when it comes to his career and his life. He has everything tuned in close to perfection. When it comes to his diet or his everyday life, his tennis, he has everything scheduled out really well.

He's like a Formula 1 car: every single small detail can disrupt his rhythm. He makes sure every single thing that he does is reaching as close to perfection as possible. Of course I cannot neglect that and not feel inspired by it because it's professionalism to the fullest.

In terms of talking about tennis legends and breaking records, when it comes to all these things, I personally think he's one of the most professional and the best of them all.