ROLAND GARROS

May 26, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/Z. Kolar

6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Well done. How much did you know about your opponent, and how much did he impress you?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I knew him a little bit from the early days when I played challengers. He's someone I knew a little bit. It's never easy playing guys that don't really play on the ATP Tour. You don't really know what to expect. I guess they play more free. It's always like this. They really have nothing-to-lose mentality. It's a different mentality than what we have, I think. Which sometimes can really be brutal on the court and create some good tennis.

He was really pushing a lot today, getting after every ball. His body was behind every ball. Running fast, reacting fast. Good net game. Complete player, I would say. Yeah, it wasn't easy out there to face him and come up with some good solutions.

You know, I knew that it's going to be difficult day.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. I'd like to know, you had a great fight the other night with Musetti and today again. Does it depend more on your serve or more on the others? Also, Sinner is much in front compared to Musetti in terms of rankings, but when you see them both playing, you have the impression that Musetti has many more strokes, much more talent. Is that just an impression, superficial impression of a viewer, or when you play against them, Sinner and Musetti, you think they are more or less very close, one to each other, forgetting the rankings?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I forget the rankings completely.

In terms of tennis, no, Musetti has a very beautiful, talented-oriented game with his one-handed backhand. It's a bit of a mixture of Gasquet a little bit with a bit more attacking and aggressive style.

He can be unpredictable, Musetti, but also, I think he really sticks to what he does. I haven't seen him much changing positions and what's so in his game. I think if he's on a good game, he can really create so many great shots with his one-handed backhand.

In terms of power, I think maybe Sinner. Sinner has a powerful game, hits hard. He relies a lot on his big strokes.

I remember Sinner in the early days he was really hitting the ball very hard. I think now he has reduced a little bit. It's always when you're a newcomer, you really play free, you play careless, in a way. Yeah, the tour kind of develops you and structures you in a different way.

Different styles of tennis. Different styles. Perhaps, very close, very close, yeah.

Q. You have started Roland Garros with two back-to-back wins, two tough matches. Who do you think your toughest opponent is right now: The person on the other side of the net, yourself, or is it a bit of both?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Great question. Well, today was really -- I mean, I don't know. I'm not trying to figure it out. I guess both today. I mean, I was there. I had a lot of opportunities, breakpoints, playing quite well, you know, staying within the game.

He was really coming up with some really good ideas and I think dealt with all of the situations so maturely, not overexaggerating anything.

He's an intelligent player, I would say. I could see that, the match was progressing I could see that his level of intelligence and the way he perceives tennis and his tactics.

Look, I mean, last year, there were moments where it was about me and the way I deal with situations on the court, not focusing that much on who is on the other side.

It's all about perspective. It's sometimes good to focus on what you are doing, but also if you're not feeling great, you have to see the other side too.

Q. You seem to love social media, but you said like...

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Obsessed (smiling).

Q. But you said some years ago that it was a toxic and unfriendly place, and you quit them. Why did you say that? What made you say that? Why did you come back on social media?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: First of all, let me clarify that. I don't love social media. I like opinions. I enjoy opinions. I enjoy reading opinions. I enjoy forming opinions.

My favorite and least favorite at the same time social media platform is Twitter. It has a very good positive side to it, but also, it can be a terrible place to be at times.

But yeah, I'm not really into social media, to be honest. It has helped me with my career a lot to bring fans closer to what my life is about. It has given me opportunities in terms of connecting with other people and making new friendships. I have used that a lot with social media.

It has given me a voice, which I find fascinating. I like having a voice where I can say things that I believe can help others, but also, I'm also very supportive of my country. I want the best for my country, and I have said things in the past that I really want to happen, to benefit my nation and my compatriots and my people back home, because I really believe Greece deserves something good, and we haven't really been much in the spotlight in recent time.

That's a way for me to be a good representative of my country on social media.