2025 will be a very important year for Stefanos Tsitsipas’ career. The Greek ace is not having a great time and his rise has come to an abrupt halt in the last couple of years. After reaching the final at the Australian Open in 2023 (lost to Novak Djokovic), the talent from Athens has not only not improved but has even regressed from some points of view.
Although Rafael Nadal retired and Nole Djokovic dropped due to age, Tsitsipas has not come close to winning a Grand Slam title due to the vehement rise of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The Italian and the Spaniard have taken control of the ATP tour, have equally divided the four Major titles in 2024 and I know very well the weaknesses of ‘Tsitsi’. The Greek – who won 11 ATP titles during his career – has gradually lost all his certainties and his hunger to get to the top of the ATP ranking has faded more and more.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Australian Open 2023© Stream screenshot
The 2019 ATP Finals champion won the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo for the third time in 2024, but that success was not enough to save a season far below expectations. The truth is that tennis no longer seems to be a priority for Stefanos and the failure to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin was another blow for him.
The former Top 10 player will try to get a great result at the next Australian Open, a tournament in which he has often played his best tennis in the past. At Melbourne Park, he defeated his idol Roger Federer in 2019 and reached the final in 2023, as well as beating Sinner twice in 2022 and 2023.
2024 also sanctioned the professional separation from his father Apostolos, but Stefanos’ results did not improve in the second half of the season.
Tsitsipas reveals his goals
In a long interview with ‘ASAP Sports’ before the start of the 2025 United Cup, the Greek ace revealed his goals for next season: “I’m looking for a fresh, new 2025. That doesn’t mean to suddenly just start winning everything. That’s not the point of this. It’s just to see a trajectory of constant improvement, and improving in all fields in my career, but also in my outside life.”
He continued: “I want to have stability in my life. Last year was a little bit up-and-down in terms of results, in terms of feelings outside of the court and on-court. So I’m just hoping 2025 brings stability, a lot of health. I also struggled with those kind of issues in the past. I’m hoping just for a healthy 2025 and one that brings me lots of good memories. It doesn’t have to be happiness, just lots of good memories.”
Tsitsipas and Badosa© Instagram
Tsitsipas is very happy off the court thanks to his love-story with his colleague Paula Badosa, but he also needs to find the right motivations while playing tennis. The first months of 2025 will be crucial for him, otherwise his downward trajectory may have already begun. His results in 2024 were not satisfactory, and his performances in Grand Slam tournaments were often disastrous.
Desire for revenge
In the same interview, the 2023 Australian Open finalist admitted that he struggled a lot in 2024: “If I have to say something about this year, it’s that I’m very proud of what I’m doing now, because my mind has had some very difficult moments this year and I wasn’t sure if I could continue playing tennis.
Tennis wasn’t important to me anymore, going to tournaments wasn’t important to me anymore. It’s been complicated because I never imagined I’d get to this point, but I’m proud of myself for the way I’ve handled the situations – because it hasn’t been easy.
The most surprising thing was going to Monte Carlo and winning the title there again because, inside, I wasn’t 100% sure if I could do it because of everything that was happening.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas© Instagram Stefanos Tsitsipas
It’s hard to think the Greek champion can aspire to win a Major title next year, but Stefanos absolutely needs to get closer to the top of the men’s tour. His main goal in 2025 should be to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals, where this year he has only gone as an alternate. The talent from Athens will have less pressure than in past seasons and will be able to work on his game with more tranquility, finally solving his weaknesses (such as the backhand).
A player like Tsitsipas is very important for men’s tennis and it would be a shame if his career had already offered its best. The Greek will also have to get help from his family and team members, to lift a negative inertia that has been affecting him for some time.
Tennis World USA