At Shanghai, where modernity meets tradition, the ATP Tour recently made its victorious return. One tennis player stood apart for his skills on the court as well as for his smart words off it. The Greek ace, Stefanos Tsitsipas, paused for a minute to honor the Chinese nation and its people during the Shanghai Rolex Masters. In an interview, Tsitsipas admired the country and its people for their patience, diligence, and hardworking nature.

As the ATP Tour unfurled in this ancient land, Tsitsipas’ words resonated with the feelings of many who have had the honor of encountering the rich culture of China. His heartfelt homage offered a brief look into the more extensive viewpoint of an athlete on tour. Tsitsipas managed to impress his critics with his stellar performance on and off the court.

The Greek star, Stefanos Tsitsipas found inspiration in the Chinese culture at the Shanghai Masters

Despite confronting a difficult season, Stefanos Tsitsipas had an electrifying win at his opening match in Shanghai.  The Greek was quick to win his confidence-boosting victory against Australian qualifier Rinky Hijikata. He played an unshakable presentation, hitting 18 winners and committing just four unforced errors. This triumph not only advanced him in the tournament but also set the vibe for his return to form.

In the on-court post-match interview, Tsitsipas couldn’t conceal his fervor about being back in China for the ATP Tour. He stressed his excitement to have these competitions back on the schedule. According to a trending tweet, Tsitsipas shared,” Absolutely. Feels great to be back in China. We had a 3-year absence but personally, lately, I am excited to be here and to put these tournaments back on the calendar. It’s a good time to be in China.”

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The star also explained, “The conditions are not extreme which makes for good play. So what I realized is that Chinese people are very hardworking. So I think there’s a lot to learn from them.”

In his post-match press conference, Tsitsipas shared,”..and I haven’t been to a lot of Asian countries, unfortunately. I have been to Japan and China.”

Stefanos also drew similarities between these characteristics and his way of dealing with tennis. He perceived that societies like China, which emphasize commitment and diligence, hold valuable lessons for athletes like him.

Tsitsipas also explained,”..they’re very disciplined, very patient, very hardworking, they put their head down and they work. It shows how tough these people are.”

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The Greek star’s perception that Chinese culture esteems hard work and discipline was not a relaxed comment. It was a demonstration of his sharp eye for detail and his ability to connect the dots between diverse elements of life.

Tsitsipas recently made a major change in his coaching carousel

In a recent and somewhat surprising move, Tsitsipas has made a significant change in his coaching staff. He decided to part ways with his coach, Mark Philippoussis, and is bringing his father back into the coaching role. Tsitsipas initially ventured into coaching under Philippoussis’s guidance, but he openly admitted that it didn’t quite click. He described the coaching relationship as “off-tune” in many aspects. The Greek player also felt that something essential was missing. In his own words, not having his father’s presence felt like he was losing his identity as a player.

To address this, Tsitsipas has shown his commitment to their partnership by reinstating his father as his coach. He acknowledged that people might create rumors or attempt to disrupt their close relationship, but his bond with his father is unshakable. While currently competing in the Shanghai Masters, he appears determined to make this change a successful one.

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