Stefanos Tsitsipas is a Greek tennis player who took the world by storm by reaching the 2018 Canada Masters final as a teenager.
Tsitsipas is an extremely promising youngster who is touted for great things in the future. Along with his spectacular shot-making skills, he has also shown the composure of a champion - having notched up several come-from-behind wins in his short career already.
Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams:
Australian Open: 1st Round (2018)
French Open: 2nd Round (2018)
Wimbledon: 4th Round (2018)
US Open: 2nd Round (2018)
Highest Ranking: No. 15
Tsitsipas is an all-court player; he likes to attack from the baseline but also advances to the net very often.
Tsitsipas hits both his forehand and his one-handed backhand with plenty of topspin, and can open up the court with his heavy groundstrokes. He also frequently uses the backhand slice as a means to vary the pace of play.
Tsitsipas is an accomplished volleyer who is not afraid of taking the ball out of the air.
Tsitsipas has an excellent forehand; he often dictates points by powering his forehand into the corners and moving his opponent all over the court. He can also flatten his forehand, racking up winners off short balls.
Tsitsipas has a good first serve, which invariable wins him a bunch of free points. His second serve, however, often lacks bite and can easily be attacked.
Tsitsipas has a stylish one-handed backhand, but that is widely considered to be his weaker wing. While he can hit a crisp down-the-line missile any moment to break open a point, he can also cough up a few unforced errors off the backhand.
Tsitsipas's net game is already among the best in the world; he has made it a habit of nailing tough volleys, including the spectacular diving ones that have made him a YouTube favorite.
The Greek is widely praised for his court sense and intelligent point-construction. Unlike the one-dimensional power hitters of the modern era, Tsitsipas looks to introduce variations and deft touches into rallies in order to destabilize his opponents.
Tsitsipas was born in Athens, and is of mixed origin: his father Apostolos is Greek while mother Julia is Russian. Both his parents were tennis players, and with his mother having once been ranked in the top 200.
Tsitsipas began playing tennis seriously at the age of six, with his father as his coach. While he also participated in football and swimming events as a kid, he decided to devote himself fully to tennis at the age of nine.
As a teenager, Tsitsipas had a near-death experience during a Futures tournament in Heraklion. While swimming in the sea to unwind, he was swept away by a huge wave, and would have drowned if his father hadn't spotted him and brought him back to safety. Tsitsipas was greatly affected by the incident; he says he doesn't feel fear on the court because of the perspective he gained from it.
Roger Federer has been Tsitsipas' role model since a young age, and part of the reason why he has a one-handed backhand is because Federer has one too. It's no coincidence that many have noticed similarities between Tsitsipas' and Federer's games; they both like to outsmart their opponents with a mix of aggressive hitting, intelligent variations and deft touches.
The Greek is considered by many to be the future of men's tennis. He has already started showing signs of living up to the expectations, and has an army of dedicated fans who are enamored by his game.
Social media presence:
Stefanos Tsitsipas Instagram: @stefanostsitsipas98
Stefanos Tsitsipas Twitter: @StefTsitsipas
