Stefanos Tsitsipas bows out of the US Open: ‘I’m not the player I used to be’
NEW YORK — In a small interview setting at the U.S. Open with just four reporters present, Stefanos Tsitsipas made it clear that he feels he’s reached a critical juncture in his tennis journey.
After losing to Thanasi Kokkinakis in a four-set match and finishing a Grand Slam season where he didn’t reach a semifinal for the first time since 2018, the 26-year-old Greek player revealed that he’s been experiencing burnout. He linked his disappointing performance throughout the year to a loss of the drive he once had when he was ranked among the top four in the world in 2021.
“I’m not the player I was before,” Tsitsipas reflected following his second first-round exit at the U.S. Open in three years. “I remember when I used to compete with adrenaline coursing through me, as if my life depended on each match. That feeling has faded, and my consistency isn’t what it used to be.
“In the past, my focus was at its peak, but now it seems to have diminished. I recognize that I need to rekindle that hunger to play with passion again. I’m not one to be complacent with mediocrity; I genuinely want to revive that feeling because it brought me immense joy on the court. I’m uncertain why it’s diminished over the last few months—perhaps for the past couple of years I’ve been coping better and just hiding it.”
Tsitsipas is right in acknowledging that he’s no longer the standout player who was on the brink of Grand Slam victories. He used to compete closely with top players like Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev and occasionally beat legends like Novak Djokovic. Remember, he won the ATP Finals in 2019 and made it to six Grand Slam semifinals, including two finals. Now, he finds himself struggling to stay in the top 10.
Alternatively, it could be that he remains the same athlete, with both strengths and flaws, whose progress stalled around the 2021 French Open final when he lost to Djokovic after leading two sets to none.
Regardless, it seems that failing to overcome that barrier at the highest level has taken a toll on him mentally. When asked about burnout, Tsitsipas responded:
“I really don’t know. I’m not a specialist or a mental health professional, but I’ve had conversations with various people, and I sense there’s a kind of long-term burnout. I’ve been feeling it since the year’s start. It’s as if this burnout has solidified so that merely taking time off isn’t enough to heal or recharge. This feeling has persisted, regardless of whether I’m actively competing or taking a break.”
It’s uncertain where this leaves Tsitsipas as the 2024 season approaches its conclusion.
Earlier this summer, he ended his coaching partnership with his father, Apostolos, for the second time and mentioned that he hasn’t settled on a long-term coaching solution. Following his recent defeat, he expressed interest in a more thorough evaluation of his playing style and mindset, recognizing the urgency to remain relevant on the ATP Tour.
“Why not,” he replied when asked about the possibility of exploring new options. “I’m currently struggling to regain that rhythm of winning and consistent performances in major tournaments like the Masters 1000s, moments that I enjoyed just two or three years ago. I remember feeling fantastic and managing to replicate that success week after week. Right now, I’m far from achieving that. I need to discover ways to reclaim those wins. I believe I executed some good strategies and showed aggression today while taking chances, but I lack the consistency in executing simpler tasks at a high level.”
Follow Dan Wolken on social media @DanWolken