'It’s great that Stefanos Tsitsipas cries like Roger Federer', says top coach

After showing off at the Australian Open 2019, where he pushed to the semifinals, Stefanos Tsitsipas no longer shone in the Grand Slam tournaments. The Greek tennis player, however, took away the satisfaction of winning the ATP Finals last year, a result that led many insiders to consider him the next number World number 1. The current World number 6 has always said that Roger Federer is his childhood idol, having decided to adopt the one-handed backhand after being inspired by the Swiss and Pete Sampras.

Mouratoglou on Roger Federer

Just like Roger Federer, 'Tsitsi' never had the fear of expressing his emotions after losing an important match. Many will recall that Stefanos broke down in tears last year when he lost in five sets from Stan Wawrinka to Roland Garros, despite having taken home one point more than his opponent. “When I’m on a tennis court with him, you have no idea how much I enjoy myself. Because the way he plays tennis is just unbelievable. His personality is very different from anyone else,” Patrick Mouratoglou revealed. “He’s created his world and I love that he is extremely open with his emotions. He’s the type of guy who would cry in a press conference because he lost a match and he is completely OK with that.Some people think he shouldn’t cry, I think it is great. Share with the people. He’s so passionate and it is so important to him to win, he’s ambitious and he shows it,” he added. Former British No. 1 players Greg Rusedski and Annabel Croft have both praised Tsitsipas's on-court demeanor in conjunction with his style of play. Rusedski in particular has said that "[Tsitsipas] reminds me a little bit of Björn Borg. He does all the right things, he is spectacular as a tennis player and was just sensational with the way he was so calm and composed and he didn't blink when it came to the crunch. He has the competitive nature of Andy Murray, but he also has a calmness which reminds me of Roger Federer." He also became the third Greek player, and first Greek male in the Open Era, to win a junior Grand Slam title with a victory in the 2016 Wimbledon boys' doubles event. Tsitsipas trains at the Mouratoglou Academy in France since 2015 and is the youngest winner of the year-end championships in eighteen years.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3euZ5Tk