Planet Tsitsipas - how lonely is Stefanos on the tour?
Stefanos Tsitsipas lost to Nick Kyrgios on Saturday after a playfully strong but mentally developable performance. The Greek would need some allies on the tour.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jul 03, 2022, 08:51 pm
By Jens Huiber from London
The ATP is very resourceful in bringing its young stars closer to the largest possible community of potential fans. And so there are regularly small video snippets in the social networks, where the men are asked about all sorts of topics. It's been a few moons since Stefanos Tsitsipas was asked who his best friend on the tour was. Tsitsipas thought for a moment - and then called: Dominic Thiem.
That was amazing in that Thiem and Tsitsipas actually have very little in common, with the exception of the common outfitter and a sponsor. Little is known about dinner together (if so, then maybe at the Laver Cup, but there in a larger group), Thiem is also more oriented socially to Dennis Novak, Diego Schwartzman or Alexander Zverev. Oh, yes: In the summer of 2018, the Austrian and the Greek met for an event in Wörschach in Upper Styria, but only because Zverev had canceled at short notice.
Kyrgios with a large circle of friends
You should probably keep all of this in mind when you look at Nick Kyrgios' press conference in detail again after his win against Tsitsipas. He was well taken care of, explained Kyrgios there. The one without friends on the ATP tour is Stefanos Tsitsipas.
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It is difficult to define what a good acquaintance or even a friendship is, but one thing is clear: a player like Nick Kyrgios can rely on a long tradition of Australian tennis players in the professional circus - and on a few colleagues with whom he says he gets on well understands: Thanasi Kokkinakis in front, but also Alex de Minaur or Jason Kubler are to be mentioned. There is also verbal give and take with these buddies, not excluding occasional meanness. Tsitsipas finds itself in this category: nobody.
The planet Tsitsipas circles quite lonely through the tennis universe. And it's not particularly densely populated. Father Apostolos can of course be found there, as can mother Julia Salnikova. From time to time also the siblings Petros, Pavlos and Elisavet. In addition, the manager Patricio Apey, who could be known to German tennis fans for his ugly separation from Alexander Zverev. Apey also has a Greek aide in Nick Tzekos, along with a relatively new physiotherapist. And at Wimbledon also Mark Philippoussis. So the box is full, but the company is closed.
Tsitsipas doesn't react at first - and then too much
What also seems to be missing: looseness and humor. On Friday, for example, Tsitsipas trained with Philippoussis, Kyrgios walked past the court and made a flippant, by no means malicious remark in the direction of his upcoming opponent. Apostolos' reaction was surprisingly unrelaxed. "Don't react, don't react," the coaching father is said to have shouted in the direction of Stefanos.
In the review of the match against Kyrgios on Saturday on Court 1, it can be said: If only Stefanos Tsitsipas had reacted to the small pitch during training. And not the slightly bigger ones in the third round at Wimbledon 2022.
Here is the individual tableau in Wimbledon
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