AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 23, 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/J. Sinner

6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the press conference of Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Congratulations. A close battle for you tonight, but you managed to take away the victory. Could you please share with us at the beginning of the fifth set, what made you regroup together and conquer the final one?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: It was all about getting myself relaxed and ready for the big battle in the fifth set. Of course, things weren't going my way after being two sets to love up. It seemed like the momentum switched dramatically - to me at least. There was a big gap that I couldn't fill in.

But I made a few technical adjustments on the fifth, gave myself an opportunity to play a bit more loose. That really helped me serve better. I think I kept on moving. I kept on being active to be on these returns that I couldn't get in the previous sets. That helped me with some Love-40 games in the fifth, two consecutive. I didn't convert the first one on the first game. I had three. But I did give myself another chance later on to convert the last break point that I actually had. That was a great moment for me.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. There's some new guys coming like Korda and Lehecka. Is there more pressure on winning a Grand Slam tournament because the depth gets deeper and deeper, there are more guys who can really go for the title?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: No, no. I play my game. Titles come if I play good. That takes care of itself, I think. If you're able to play the best you can produce on the court, I feel like the rest just follows naturally. It's a natural flow of things.

Putting pressure on yourself... We're all dealing with pressure when we're playing. For us, we are out there on a different race every single time, a race with different conditions, a race with a different player by our side. That's I think something that most players are focused at.

I wouldn't say too many players think of future events too much 'cause tennis is a sport in which you have to stay present, otherwise if your mind wanders around, creates sort of scenarios, situations, that's not really how you can play I think and peak in your performance.

Q. Speaking of Jannik, last year you had a game plan, you executed, it was a pretty one-sided game. This one, you started also pretty dominant. He was able to turn it around. What was the best improvement on his side that you noticed? How did you adjust in the fifth?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: There were some things, for sure, that I can look back to now and say that was not the best thing to do.

I think it's also important to keep it to myself. We have certain things that we want to keep to ourselves and get back and improve. Not everything has to be public. Not everything has to be exposed and said.

But it's a feeling. It's something that showed something different earlier in the match. And for some reason I decided not to follow or I gave myself sort of an idea that I can do things more extreme. That didn't seem to work at all.

But the most important thing, I did fight. When I came to the most important part of the match, I regrouped and did it the way I did it in the first two sets.

Q. Did you spend half an hour yesterday signing the postcards?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Yes, I did. I always do.

Q. How many do you bring? Where did you get the idea for it?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: It came during the pandemic. Of course, distancing was something that was recommended. We all followed religiously. I think it's also a very good option these days, as well. You're not sure yet what you're dealing with, the people you get exposed to.

Of course, the fans are the most important thing when we are there on the court. They're not small, they're actually a big part of why we're doing things so great when we compete.

It was important to spend some time on them daily when in competition or tournaments, dedicate this time to let them know that you appreciate them and you respect that they are there cheering you on, giving you their support.

I find it important. It will always remain this way.

Q. Could you say a few words about your relationship to Melbourne, what kind of energy gives Melbourne to you and why is it different from other places?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I grew up in a climate that is very similar here, from the place I come from in southwestern Attica. It always reminds me of home a little bit when I'm here. The conditions are similar. It's not very humid, it's not very tropical. I can say it's similar to the Athenian Riviera.

Another reason, another plus is wherever I look I see Greek faces, I see Greek people speaking Greek. Of course, it's very important when you're far away from home to have that sort of feeling, to connect even more with the culture that you're at.

It feels very welcoming when you're able to walk around and feel that. It's for sure my home slam, I would consider that, yes, 'cause Melbourne is the second-biggest city after Athens with the biggest Greek population. I would consider it my home slam.

The French people have Roland Garros, the Brits have Wimbledon, the Americans have US Open. For me it's the Australian Open.