Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a decent year so far. Stefanos has been in the news a lot recently. He even won his maiden title of the year at Los Cabos by defeating Alex De Minaur. Despite a packed schedule, the Greek made an appearance on the latest edition of the ATP ‘Build your Player’.
It was a fun segment as Stefanos got to build his ideal player. Tsitsipas named his contemporaries, players he felt were the epitome of a particular trait.
Stefanos named Juan Martin Del Potro for having the best forehand. “Have you seen his forehand? It’s a hammer!” he said while cracking a laugh. Daniil Medvedev also found his way onto this list for his unique inside-out backhand.
Novak Djokovic had the privilege of making the list twice. Stefanos named him for having the best returns and his mental toughness. Of course, Djokovic a lot can be said about Novak’s mental strength. Tsitsipas too thinks it is one of the reasons he is leading the Grand Slam race.
For the slice shot, Stefanos named Swiss tennis ace Roger Federer. “He keeps it very low, very effortless,” said Stefanos. For movement and speed, he named the two Spaniards, Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal respectively.
Tsitsipas named himself for having the best celebration. He added how he is coming up with newer, more creative ways to celebrate a victory on the tennis court.
What makes Stefanos Tsitsipas stand out?
Tsitsipas has made deep runs in Grand Slams in the past, even if he has no title to show for it. At Wimbledon, he achieved the rare feat of defeating two Grand Slam title holders- Dominic Thiem and Andy Murray. The world number four opened up about a few qualities that make him stand out on the tennis court.
Tsitsipas is a tall player. His height allows him to cover all areas of the court. He acknowledges that it is an advantage because it lets him return the ball from anywhere on the court. Movement is vital for Stefanos since it lets him dictate the game.
The Greek player has a lot of shots in his arsenal, but the one that stands out is his forehand. The key to playing the perfect forehand is the grip. With a flat grip, Stefanos can generate power while maintaining control.
Lastly, Tsitsipas’ serves. In tennis, serve can make or break the game. For Tsitsipas, the key to a good serve is the toss and his rhythm. Stefanos serves to win.
Tsitsipas is an incredibly talented player and a treat to watch when he gets going. He may have been ousted from the first round of the Canadian Open but he will put his talents to good use at the US Open.
