Stefanos Tsitsipas on goals for 2021: "Good goal to defeat Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros"
Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed his goals for the 2021 season in a conversation on the Roland Garros website - and has something very special in mind.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 28, 2021, 10:06 am
Never in his young career has Stefanos Tsitsipas been as close to a place in the final of a Grand Slam tournament as he was at the French Open last year. After a cold start in the first round, the Greek played his way into the semifinals in an extremely sovereign manner, in which he should meet Novak Djokovic. After the world number six had to give up the first two sets quite clearly, Tsitsipas started a big comeback. A comeback that ended somewhat ingloriously due to a foot injury and a 1: 6 in the fifth round.
This match still hurts the Greeks today, as he said in a conversation on Roland Garros' homepage: "It was sad that it ended this way. But at the same time I'm proud because I fought very, very hard. Me was the determined Stefanos, I was the Stefanos who went out and was fully concentrated and dedicated to my work and my craft. So that was excellent. " Looking back, it was a very, very good tournament, of which the Greek would definitely like to have more in the future.
Tsitsipas wants to win "big title"
This also coincides with the goal for the year 2021, which the Greek has set himself. "I want to win a big title," said Tsitsipas. But the world number sixth also has another, very special goal in mind: "It might be a really good goal to beat Rafa Nadal on sand, or in Roland-Garros, that would be a really nice goal," said the 22nd Year olds.
At the same time, Tsitsipas knows that this is one of the greatest challenges in the world of tennis, as the Spaniard has a 100: 2 record on the Bois de Bolougne. But this is exactly what makes this goal so charming, as the man from Athens explains: "I think everyone would love that, especially me. He's such a difficult opponent, very difficult, very consistent, incredible fighting spirit. I hold on even for a fighter, but he's completely on the next level, beyond compare. "
Nadal "the hardest to beat for nothing"
In addition, the world number two is the most difficult opponent for him. "You don't call Rafa the hardest player to beat by chance," said the 22-year-old. "For me personally he has a very heavy ball and he anticipates very well, the movement on the court is also very good. His spin, his agility on the court is very impressive and the way he fights, he becomes just never give up, that makes it very, very difficult against him ", the Greek scatters roses for the 20-time Grand Slam champion.
But once Stefanos Tsitsipas has already managed to defeat the Spaniard. And even on sand. In 2019, when he was able to beat the 34-year-old in three sets in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Madrid. On the other hand, there are now six defeats, only recently the Greek Nadal was defeated in three sets at the Nitto ATP finals. Defeating a Rafael Nadal in his living room, the Court Philippe-Chatrier, would be a much bigger challenge.