US OPEN

August 26, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Stefanos, if you can just tell us your thoughts on being at the 2022 US Open.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Looks like it got better than any other year. I'm more than happy to be here in New York. I have been enjoying my training the last couple of days. It's been a very good few days of preparation.

Feeling like a real New Yorker these days (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. I wanted to ask about the coaching relationship with Mark, how that's going, how it works with your dad, as well. Do they always agree? If they don't agree, what happens? How is that all going?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Seem to have a good balance between them. My dad has a lot of respect for him. He brought Mark into the team. It was not my decision. I have a great relationship with him as well. I thought from the start that he's the right fit.

He's the best-looking one from the coaches (laughter). He attracts a lot of opposite gender these days. That is kind of frustrating for my dad and me, but it's okay (smiling). We're trying to balance that out as much as possible.

Q. You're playing Laver Cup with this stacked team coming up. Can you talk about what you think it's going to be like rejoining with Roger, what your thoughts are with Roger going forward? Have you contacted him at all? Do you see this mirroring his swan song as well.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Let me first say this is legendary. This team lineup is a joke (smiling). This is Michael Jordan with Red Bull -- sorry (laughter). No, with the Chicago Bulls. Sorry, my mind is everywhere.

I'm more than honored to be part of this team. I honestly don't know what Roger's status is, but I'm more than happy to see him back on court.

A lot of Roger in the last couple of months. Yeah, what a privilege to have him in the team, play hopefully the first singles match. Yeah, all the best experiences that I've had on the court is playing Laver Cup, and that's why I've been such a big fan of it.

I learned so much from these greats. I get to share something very meaningful with them through the course of a three-day performance period. More than that, we get to connect and share such great ideas on court, off court, be part of something very extraordinary for our sport.

Q. Anything you can share about some of those experiences together off court? Most memorable experience.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I signed an NDA, so I'm not allowed to share (laughter).

Q. You obviously love to travel. You said you feel like a New Yorker. Are there any places in the city you make sure to check out?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Nothing in particular. I always feel like it has something new to offer. If you accidentally miss a street or don't use Google Maps, you might end up somewhere beautiful that you haven't seen before.

For sure there are a few spots like Central Park, Soho, NOHO. I enjoy the East Side, Upper East Side. Very relaxing to be there.

In particular a single spot? Not really. But I do like my Greek restaurants. I enjoy eating local Greek food. I'm not sponsored by them, but Avra is a good option.

Q. What are your thoughts on the legacy and importance in tennis and out of Serena Williams, who appears is getting ready to move on from her playing days? Separately, a more broad question about players like Andy, Novak and Rafa are getting older. As this era is ending, what do you know the key will be for yourself and other younger players to push the sport forward and drive the popularity of tennis as those folks leave.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, let me just say, I'm going to start from your last sentence, less TikTok, more tennis, for sure is going to help for the new generation to make the step forward.

Serena has had, like, a domino effect with her career, with her community -- not her community, but other communities around the world. She has been very inspiring, including myself. What she has been able to do on the tennis court and outside the tennis court has brought the game of tennis so high and has made it so important as a sport.

So I give a lot of credit to her because she deserves a lot of credit for what she has done in this sport. She's a phenomenon. We won't see a lot of Serena in the next couple years to come.

Regarding Roger, it's absolutely normal. At some point your body is not as responsive as it used to be, in his case in his younger years. I'm going to be there one day, too. Unfortunately, I can't escape that.

I honestly think it will be nice to see him come back. It will be nice to see him win a few matches. I don't think anyone has more expectations than that at this point.

But I have all the respect for him and Serena. I really wish one day I can do 1/10th of what they have achieved and done, be part of their legacy, be part of their history that they have created in tennis.

Q. What are your thoughts on the opportunity to have coaching from the stands?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Doesn't change anything at all. Has always been this way for everyone. My coach has not been as discreet as other coaches, but it has been always happening. I've gotten a lot of coaching violations, which I found unfair. But now that it's legalized, I'm more than happy I won't have to deal with referees that are so strict and want to kind of ruin the game.

Trust me, it's happening with almost every single player. The fact that it's legalized now is going to make tennis a bit more peaceful, make players concentrate more on the game, less on different kind of nonsense.

Q. With Novak not here, Rafa sort of rusty coming back, you going to the finals in Cincinnati, how does this shape up? Do you feel pretty good this could be the big moment for you?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, I didn't expect to be in the finals in Cincinnati. I just happened to play great tennis, and it showed that I was capable to go deep into that tournament.

I find the conditions here much more hot and humid than in Cincinnati. My physical conditions will be very important, starting strong in this tournament. I think we're dealing now with best-of-five sets, which is physically very demanding.

What else?

Everyone fights for this one trophy, including myself. Everyone wants to push themselves to the fullest, to the maximum. The competition is going to be very high from every single player. There's demand.