Stefanos Tsitsipas expressed his solidarity and love for those affected by the deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
The No. 3 in the world ranking, in his post on social media, said:
"Sending love and support to all those affected by the ongoing challenges in Turkey and Syria. Remember that hope and strength are always within us, and together we will overcome any obstacle and create a better future."
Sending love and support to all those affected by the ongoing challenges in Turkey and Syria. Remember that hope and strength are always within us, and together we will overcome any obstacle and create a better future.
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) February 8, 2023
Tsitsipas is now preparing for his next tournament which is in Rotterdam next week, before he goes on the Tour with Mexico and USA.
Tsitsipas put Greece 2-0 up in their World Group 1 first qualifying round match against Ecuador. The finalist of the last Australian Open took longer than expected to take control of the match, but he still defeated Álvaro Guillén Meza by a score of 7-5, 6-2.
Tsitsipas has never hidden his big ambitions, confessing after the match: "I have nothing to prove to anyone. I know what I can do on the pitch; everyone knows it. The playing conditions were difficult today, I'm not used to it."
"I think this also complicates the rival's plans, but I found the right path and won. I have many dreams, one of them is to win the gold medal. In addition to winning the Davis Cup with Greece, winning all the Slams and becoming number one in the world," the Greek explained to Sport 24.
Tsitsipas came close to his first Grand Slam success at the Australian Open, where he reached his second Major final. As happened in 2021 at Roland Garros, also in Australia, it was Novak Djokovic who postponed the Greek's dream.
"I want to create a more aggressive backhand. I'm in a good phase. I have room for improvement. I think I'm not good with this shot right now, I exploit it to 5 or 10 percent. I have to work to get as far as possible. However, if I compare my game to 3-4 years ago, it has changed a lot.
Presence of the public in the stands? There is interest and I think we will break more records. I think it can quadruple what we have achieved today. Winning a Slam in singles, even with Maria Sakkari, would allow us to fill a stadium like the Maracana.
It's something we had the opportunity to see a few years ago in Mexico with Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev.
It's a bit difficult to get to those numbers, but it would be a good start to get to half”. Stefanos Tsitsipas is coming off his second Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, where he failed against Novak Djokovic.
Tsitsipas helped Greece
Stefanos Tsitsipas hailed the "passion and energy" of the record-breaking audience during Greece's Davis Cup tie against Ecuador. "We are deeply humbled by the unwavering support of the record-breaking 12,400 Greeks who attended the Davis Cup tie against Ecuador.
To have played in front of such a large and enthusiastic crowd, who came together to write history, is a truly unforgettable experience," he wrote. "The passion and energy of this magnificent gathering was felt on and off the court, and it is a proud moment for all Greeks," said Tsitsipas.
"We are honored to have been a part of this historical moment and to have represented the blue and white colors with distinction. Thank you, Greece, for making this a day we will always cherish."
Meanwhile, Turkey’s disaster management authority has raised the official death toll from Monday’s quake up to 7,108 people. The combined total, with the 2,470 deaths recorded officially in Syria, has reached 9,578.
The numbers are expected to continue to rise as further rescue work and excavations are carried out. Emergency services have been hampered by poor weather.
READ MORE: Greece comes first in Europe at Kasparov Chess Foundation University Cup!
