Australian Open 2023 – Once upon a time Stefanos Tsitsipas

We can detect in this sequence a reason for concern, especially in view of the final against Novak Djokovic. When he gets opportunities (if he has any), Tsitsipas won’t be able to afford to slip through. But the way he erased this end of the set, reducing a possible trauma to the rank of epiphenomenon, perhaps says even more about what will be called “the new Tsitsipas”.

“The previous yearsnotes Boris Becker, after losing the 3rd set, you would have seen him break his racquet, or take a toilet break or even go completely nuts. It is much calmer today. It is also something that comes with experience. He learned to accept certain things, painful defeats, difficult times.” “He tensed up when he should have won in three sets but I give him a lot of credit for immediately remobilizing. There he showed composure and maturity to finish the job“, greets John McEnroe for his part.

For Tim Henman, all this is indeed revealing both of a new maturity, but also of the confidence that inhabits Stefanos Tsitsipas. His certainties, almost. “He knew he was still in control and only he could lose this game.says the Englishman. It was ‘enough’ not to get frustrated. Of course, that was when, in theory, he could have gotten frustrated. But he quickly reasserted his authority. He knew, deep down, that there could only be one winner in this game.“

The interested party said it again on Friday, from childhood he was carried by “great confidence” in him. Anchored in him, the conviction of being able to become the best. “It all starts from there, from confidence in your abilities, in what you are capable of accomplishing and I am sincerely convinced that you can do great things.“, adds the Greek. Then, among the pros, the time for annoyances came. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who had ravaged everything in the youth categories, up to the juniors, discovered that there was bigger and stronger than It was an apprenticeship for him but, at 24, he finally seems to have freed himself from his frustrations which could derail him from time to time and rarely at the best time.

“Yes, there is less frustration in me than in the past, I noticed that it did not produce anything goodsmiled the Athenian. It’s experience, no doubt. But the frustration also comes when the panic happens because you don’t have confidence in your game on certain days and there is a lack of solutions. I definitely believe that is something that is behind me. I have a pretty good relationship with myself on the court today. Even if it doesn’t work out, I’m very optimistic and positive about the results, about the opponents I have to face. It’s something that’s been missing in my game so far.”

“I find his state of mind extremely positive.emphasizes Mats Wilander. Perhaps also the new coaching system has calmed him down. He seems more relaxed, can chat with his clan when he feels the need. I find him in other dispositions after a difficult season“It’s the paradox. Stefanos Tsitsipas looked for himself a lot last year, and if as a good stakhanovist on the courts he is the one who won the most matches in 2022, he overall gave the feeling of stagnating, even at a high level.

“He remains a very regular playertempers Mats Wilander. His only problem was his lack of good results in the Grand Slam tournaments last season. But he has found himself fully, he plays better, he serves better too I find and the presence of Mark Philippoussis at his side is probably not for nothing and, above all, he is more relaxed.”

All this obviously requires confirmation, and it is difficult to imagine a more convincing and demanding test than a Grand Slam final against Novak Djokovic, even more so here in Melbourne. It might not be enough to triumph, but if Stefanos Tsitsipas could get through it with an attitude similar to the one displayed since the beginning of the year, it would already be a form of victory. On himself.