AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/R. Hijikata

6-3, 6-0, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Stefanos, congratulations. That was quick and smooth. How would you rate your performance today?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I'm happy with the way I played. I was playing excellently, I can say. Wasn't giving away too many points with unforced errors and I would call them silly mistakes. I was able to maintain that level throughout the entire match. Very high-intensity play, very good shot-making from both backhand and forehand.

I've had better days on the serve, but I still managed to strategically use the serve to have great shots after that, to generate some good angles.

I came to the net. I returned pretty well, especially after the first set was done. I'm happy also with my composure in the second and third set, finishing it off in a very smooth, controlling way.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How important is it to win matches easily early in the tournament? Do you feel it helps you save your energy for when it gets serious later in the tournament?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: You know, you're always expecting difficult matches in any round during a slam, because these are the tournaments that we are all preparing for. These are the tournaments that the best of the best is being played at.

For me, it is important to have some matches. If they happen to come in any stage during a Grand Slam, it could be an advantage, I would say, not having to spend more time on court than your opponents.

For sure, economizing on energy, economizing on attention and focus and the energy that it takes for you to put out there when you play. I will take it, a win. It is an important win. Perhaps I can maybe use that time that I would have expected, let's say, for practice.

Q. What did you make of your opponent tonight? Did you know much about him coming into the match?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I didn't know much about him, but I overheard that he played against Rafa recently at the US Open, if I'm not wrong.

Q. You could be right.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I heard he went pretty close in one of the sets against him. So I was expecting a good level of tennis, and he did come up with some really good shots in the beginning, coming in the net. Serving pretty well I would say in the beginning, but the consistency didn't last very long, I would say.

Of course, he fought and he tried. I kept producing bigger shots with more topspin, with more rotation and more angles, really going for that forehand. Of course, I don't pay attention too much what's happening on the other side of the net, but I sort of felt there wasn't much he could do at a certain point.

I think in the second set I was producing some deep, aggressive and heavy balls and shots. That made him really uncomfortable. I felt like he was trying to change something, and it didn't really work his way. In the third set, I think it was his last chance to do something, so he freed up, started playing a bit more with, let's say, less expectation.

He had a few good first games, but my level was still there. I had a great rhythm that I generated from previous sets and games.

Q. With all the attention that's been on Djokovic this year for obvious reasons, and Rafa as well, do you feel like you're flying under the radar a little bit?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, when I see two of you guys here tonight, maybe (smiling).

Yes, I mean, I don't mind it. It's fine. It's better having, like, a quiet environment here rather than have, like, the whole media -- how do you call this room?

Q. Auditorium.

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Auditorium. It's fine, it's like we're friends or something just having a conversation (smiling).