“Tsitsipas admits shortcomings and promises improvement before Roland Garros.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas casts a critical eye on his physical condition and performance during the clay season, in an admission that makes it clear the Greek player is far from his best version, even on his favorite surfaces. Following a series of surprising defeats and underwhelming results in major tournaments such as Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Rome, the 25-year-old tennis player knows he urgently needs to elevate his game to face the second Grand Slam of the year, Roland Garros, where he was just a step away from the title in 2021.

In an exclusive interview with SDNA (Sports DNA), Tsitsipas did not hide his dissatisfaction with how he has been playing on clay: “The clay season has not been particularly positive for me, and I feel that I have not been able to express the level I expected in many tournaments.” Only in Madrid did he feel truly fit, highlighting his solid performance at that Masters 1000. The Greek also emphasized the value of his match against Casper Ruud, the tournament finalist, which showed him that he is closer to the top than many might think.

But the most critical point of his statement was the self-criticism regarding his physical condition: “The most important thing now is to continue to improve physically, because there were matches where I clearly felt my intensity dropping too much.” Tsitsipas explained that when the legs stop responding, the problem goes beyond technique: “It’s not just a technical issue, but rather a general decline in the quality of play. Everything starts to deteriorate: movement, energy, and even the ability to maintain aggression. I need to keep that intensity for longer, and that’s only possible by working hard on physical preparation and being willing to give my all on the court.”

The Greek tennis player, known for his combative style and technical talent, thus demonstrates a clear awareness of his current weaknesses, but also a firm desire to return to his best level. This brutal honesty serves as a warning to fans and opponents alike: Tsitsipas is not going to give up and knows exactly what he needs to do to become one of the biggest names in world tennis again.

In addition, Tsitsipas commented, with some surprise, on the recent strike by tennis players that decided to limit press conferences to just 15 minutes, revealing that he only became aware of the situation shortly before the interview. “Honestly, I didn’t even know about the protest until a few minutes before because I don’t use social media much. Each player is free to do what they think is right, and I totally respect any decision they make. In my case, I prefer to focus on playing good tennis and keeping my concentration on my performance on the court.”

With Roland Garros around the corner, the challenge for Tsitsipas is clear: to regain his physical and mental form to avoid repeating past missteps on clay and to fight for titles that would place him among the best on the circuit. It remains to be seen whether the Greek will be able to turn this self-criticism into fuel for a giant turnaround in the Grand Slam season. The answer will come in the coming weeks, but one thing is certain: Tsitsipas is working to avoid failing again.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.