How a lot does the significance of Roger Federer weigh for the Workforce Europe? Within the second match of the Laver Cup, Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1 6-4, bringing the primary level to Workforce Europe, nevertheless it was at the press convention that the Greek tennis participant expressed a number of attention-grabbing factors on necessary subjects, one among which was the significance of the Swiss Maestro for the European group.
“It’s a enormous benefit that we have now. Roger is unquestionably in our group. He himself doesn’t need to reveal it, however everyone knows that he’s there each time we want him for the necessary moments, and this can be a small benefit that we supply with us. They might have Rod, however we have now Roger,” he defined.
Robert, Roger, and Lynette Federer😊 #LaverCup2024 pic.twitter.com/2gtUDc1Koc
— Dinora♥RF 🐐 (@norinchi_df) September 21, 2024
On the worth of the Laver Cup, Tsitsipas stated: “For me, the Laver Cup is that honorary event that permits you to play and that makes you proud to have been chosen to be a part of the roster and the group. It goes past simply the factors, since you’re chasing factors all yr, and this can be a week the place you are devoted to taking part in your finest tennis as a result of clearly it is already an honor to be a part of the group and also you need to maximize it as a lot as potential. I really really feel extra excited for competitions just like the Laver Cup, in all probability than different tournaments in the course of the yr.”
The Greek additionally talked concerning the position of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for the way forward for tennis: “As for Carlos and Jannik, it was nice for tennis to see them win Slams. To start with, it was a studying expertise for us, to see what it takes to be of their place. These two gamers are among the many strongest, most aggressive that the tour has in the mean time. Additionally they train you that you must actually push your self and which you could’t be too passive to win Slams.”
How did we do, @DaniilMedwed? 👉👈 pic.twitter.com/N2k4lXclie
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) September 20, 2024
Tsitsipas additionally explored his relationship with Workforce Europe captain Bjorn Borg: “I really feel just like the aura makes a giant distinction. Typically it isn’t what they are saying to you or how they are saying it to you. It is the intimacy you are feeling when somebody sits subsequent to you and communicates issues to you in a religious means. I really feel like that is one thing I’ve appreciated with Bjorn in the previous couple of years, having performed the Laver Cup, and that is additionally why I maintain coming again. I do know I’ve a fantastic group captain who helps my tennis. That is additionally one thing that offers me a variety of aid once I exit on courtroom,” he stated.
On his efficiency in opposition to the Australian, the Greek analyzed: “An awesome begin for my debut this yr in Berlin. I need to honor my captains and the group I am surrounded by. I do know that is Bjorn’s final yr as group captain, and the identical goes for Thomas. My need for this week is to attempt to maximize my recreation as a lot as potential. I do know it is easy to say, however I will must work exhausting for each single set I play this week. My total recreation in the present day is constructive and I am proud of how issues went throughout the entire match. I felt in management.”
The place single-handed backhands meet black-tie. ✨ pic.twitter.com/NvhUJiloqq
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) September 21, 2024
In an interview with ANT1 channel, Tsitsipas’ mom, Yulia Salnikova, who revealed beforehand unpublished particulars concerning the breakup between Stefanos and Apostolos and the Greek champion’s childhood. Salnikova revealed how the connection between the 2 deteriorated after her son’s defeat to Borna Coric on the 2020 US Open, performed behind closed doorways as a result of COVID pandemic, a match throughout which Tsitsipas requested his father to depart the stadium in the course of the match.
“There have been issues in Stefanos’ life that distracted him, however that made him joyful. He’s an expert and, though he loves his father very a lot, he understood that he has to seek out one other coach. Since 2020, when he misplaced on the US Open, we determined along with Apostolos that Stefanos would change coaches. Nonetheless, 4 years have handed and Stefanos has achieved good outcomes. Nonetheless, I consider that Stefanos and Apostolos didn’t have a very good relationship since then, they’d fixed conflicts and that’s the reason Stefanos ended up making the choice to vary coaches. We don’t see it as a tragedy, we’re a really shut household. Apostolos didn’t understand that he was placing an excessive amount of strain on Stefanos’ shoulders, he solely had tennis on his thoughts,” she stated.
Salnikova then talked concerning the tough childhood of the Greek tennis participant, who additionally suffered bullying in school.
“When he was a toddler, Stefanos additionally performed soccer, however ultimately he determined to play tennis, and it was a very good choice. He was a really quiet and really shy baby. Due to sports activities, he did not attend some lessons and the boys in his class weren’t his associates, it was unimaginable to name them that, as a result of they handled him very badly. There have been two or three boys in his class who typically beat him. It wasn’t simple for Stefanos, however he overcame all of this as a result of tennis was in his head and that stored him going. Tennis helped him lots,” Yulia revealed.
Stefanos’ mom concluded by speaking about Tsitsi’s love story with Badosa: “An important factor is that Stefanos could be very joyful to be again with Paula Badosa. If he’s joyful, I’m too. Once they broke up, we went by tough occasions, I stood up for Paula, we talked and that is how they obtained again collectively.”
