Tsitsipas hopes ‘home’ comforts of Melbourne will bring out the best in him

Stefanos Tsitsipas successful enactment during his circular of 16 lucifer against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo successful the Paris Masters, Accor Arena, Paris, Oct 31, 2024. [Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters]

Former Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas hopes a instrumentality to his “home” Slam astatine Melbourne Park tin spark an upturn successful his fortunes aft an inconsistent 2024 saw the Greek driblet retired of the top 10.

Tsitsipas won his third Masters title successful Monte Carlo successful April but different than that recovered success hard to travel by, finishing the year ranked 11th.

Melbourne has the largest colonisation of Greek speakers extracurricular Greece and Cyprus and 2023 Australian Open finalist Tsitsipas is assured helium will person immense support successful his latest bid for a archetypal Grand Slam title.

“I’m truly gladsome to beryllium backmost to Melbourne,” helium told reporters connected Saturday.

“I can’t wait to start the Australian Open, which I’ve said is my location Slam. It’s a large accidental to beryllium playing connected these courts, to beryllium receiving the assemblage support I person been receiving implicit the past fewer years.

“I conscionable anticipation my tennis blends successful well with the remainder of the assemblage and I’m going to beryllium capable to truly execute astatine my highest level and bring that tennis I’ve shown successful the past fewer years.”

The 26-year-old erstwhile French Open runner-up said his crippled flourished when helium was successful his comfortableness zone.

“It makes a large quality successful terms of feeling connected court,” Tsitsipas added.

“When I travel astir the world and play successful antithetic places, I person seemed to beryllium connecting much with the European benignant of vibe. I haven’t had large success successful the US.

“Travelling so acold overseas and having that feeling of location allows maine to consciousness bully within my comfortableness zone. That’s besides why my tennis thrives and I consciousness amended with my game.”

Tsitsipas plays American Alex Michelsen successful his opener astatine the Australian Open, which begins connected Sunday. [Reuters]