WORLD No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas said his run to the final in Barcelona had served as a reminder of what it felt like to be a strong contender at a tournament again and left him full of confidence heading into this week’s Madrid Open.
After missing out on a first Grand Slam title in January with defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, Tsitsipas went out early in Rotterdam and Indian Wells before reaching the fourth round in Miami and the Monte Carlo quarters.
“Now I’ve had a first glimpse of what it is to be strong again. Things are looking pretty bright.”
Tsitsipas could come up against defending champion Alcaraz in the Madrid final and the Greek said it was difficult to match the world No. 2’s focus and dedication to the sport.
“In order to get there, I’d have to spend hours on the court practicing, also hours in the gym working out and hours in my room analyzing my past performances and trying to get better,” he added.
While Alcaraz will be favorite to follow up his Barcelona triumph with the Madrid title, Tsitsipas said the higher altitude of the Spanish capital offered him a “small advantage”. — Reuters
