Pain-free and perfect in Perth: Tsitsipas on ‘the biggest bliss’, despite Greece exit
The United Cup is over for this year for Team Greece, but Stefanos Tsitsipas is hopeful the 2026 edition of the mixed teams event represents the start of something new in his career.
The 27-year-old ATP Tour star finished with a 3-0 singles record for his country at RAC Arena in Perth, where he on Wednesday downed Team USA’s Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5 for his first Top 10 victory in more than 18 months. Despite the Americans going on to clinch the tie with a deciding mixed-doubles triumph at RAC Arena, Tsitsipas was happy to reflect on the positives after he sank Fritz to improve to 4-2 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
“Pleased with the win. It was not easy getting into the match. I’ve been absent for a long time and matches like this challenge you to the fullest,” Tsitsipas, who had not played a competitive match since September due to a back injury prior to arriving in Perth, told ATPTour.com. “I feel like you really get tested in the most brutal and intense ways against players that have been very consistent in the past couple of months. Taylor is one of them. I was aware entering the court that my focus levels needed to be at their highest.
“I couldn’t allow myself to disconnect at any given moment during the match, and I delivered that excellently. My focus levels were there. I was trying to read play, trying to read the court and see what patterns he might start building up and liking a little bit more. I tried to stay away from those and played my game. Very offensive tennis. I dominated from the baseline at times. I felt like I was pretty solid in those rally exchanges. I’m very glad about my performance. It is one of those wins that adds to my confidence.”
Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari were unable to overcome Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison in the mixed doubles clash as Greece missed out on a spot in the semi-finals in Sydney. Yet the 12-time ATP Tour champion Tsitsipas feels both he and his countrywoman would be taking plenty away from the encounter.
“I spoke to Maria. I’m very proud of her, she did excellently. I’m happy that I got to share the court with her,” said the No. 34 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “We are building a great duo, me and her. I feel like every doubles match that we get to play, we come to new realisations about our games. We blend in quite well, and I feel like every match we’ve played, we’ve always received feedback and always understood how our games can interact even better.
“Obviously it sucks losing today and not capturing that win to go to Sydney, but I see that as a greater opportunity to grow from it, use it in a positive way, and hopefully come back next year with hunger.”
Tsitsipas, who revealed he is hoping to play the Adelaide International before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open, was also elated at the way his body had held up across three singles matches and two mixed doubles rubbers in Perth.
“So far everything is good,” said the 2023 Australian Open finalist, when asked about how he felt physically. “It’s great feedback, knowing that sort of thing, knowing that I’m not feeling any aches or pains. I’m actually very pleased that I get to enjoy tennis daily, without any discomfort and pain that might be causing me more stress in everyday life… I’m super glad I get to play the sport that I love. Health is the most important thing in the world. I’m really truly enjoying every single match that I get to play pain free.
“I haven’t had that in a while, so to be able to play that way creates happiness and satisfaction, and makes me want to go back to train. Especially when you are dealing with so much pain and especially in the lower back, you are very discouraged pretty quick when you see yourself a few times in that same situation. Training doesn’t become as enjoyable anymore. To be able to do that right now is like the biggest bliss.”
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