Tsitsipas Finds Motivation in Melbourne Loss

Stefanos Tsitsipas expressed his determination to bounce back stronger following his fourth-round loss to Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open on Sunday. The Greek world number seven, who faced his earliest exit in four years at the Melbourne Park Grand Slam, had previously reached the last four in 2019.

After a third-round loss in the subsequent year, Tsitsipas achieved two more semi-final runs, ultimately facing a defeat to 10-times champion Novak Djokovic in the title clash last year. Despite the setback in the current tournament, Tsitsipas remains optimistic about learning and growing from the experience.

“It’s not a negative feeling,” he told reporters. “It’s a feeling of evolution, of change, which is constant. Change is always constant. One day, you’re in the top 10; the other day, you’re not there anymore.

“So you have to keep on working and allowing yourself to flourish through these experiences, allow yourself to seek for all these moments that have been working for you over the last few years, give it another shot time after time.”

Tsitsipas, who is yet to win a Grand Slam, said dealing with setbacks was part of the job.

“There are way more moments in your career that are painful and tough to deal with, suffering and all that, than moments of glory and success and opening champagne bottles,” he added.

“These are a small percentage of what a tennis player lives on a yearly basis.”