Even a few weeks back, Stefanos Tsitsipas was lamenting the missed chances that cost him the Barcelona final against Rafael Nadal despite holding a championship point at one stage.

However, close to launching his Madrid campaign now, the current World No.5 is not only optimistic about extending his hot streak on clay this year at the Spanish capital but has also outlined his year-end goals.

Stefanos Tsitsipas wants to break into Top-3 in singles by year-end

While his immediate goal is to match his 2019 run in Madrid and follow up with another strong week in Rome and hopefully rise to No.4 in the rankings, Tsitsipas said his year-end objective is to break into the Top-3 in singles.

It won’t seem too ambitious for someone who is playing some of his best tennis this season, especially on clay, and the clarity with which he is chasing his goals should be of concern to his rivals not just in the Spanish capital but also in the events that follow.

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The Greek reached the Madrid final in 2019, taking down five-time champion Rafael Nadal in the last four.

However, he eventually came away with a runners-up finish after losing the championship clash with Novak Djokovic.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says he’s confident of strong finishes in Madrid and Rome

Tsitsipas knows full well that he needs to go all the way in Madrid to give himself the best chance of taking the No.4 slot and avoid meeting Nadal in the quarter-finals at the French Open.

“My expectations, I won’t lie to you, are to come as close to my two-year result, which was in the final,” the World Number 5 said at a press conference ahead of his Madrid opener against Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, who is in sight of lifting his second Tour title this year in Munich.

He is currently trailing Dominic Thiem, who is holding on at No.4 despite being out of action for weeks to address niggles and indifferent form, by less than 400 points and can catch up with strong finishes in Rome and Madrid.

Thiem, however, will return at the Masters 1000 in the Spanish capital.

“I’m really pumped up for this week, for the next week (Rome) as well. I feel like I’m getting close. I feel like I can create opportunities and maybe get to No.4,” Tsitsipas said.

Read More: “I Didn’t Expect It”: Stefanos Tsitsipas Praises Roger Federer for Good Sense of Humor

The Greek currently leads the race to the ATP Finals in Turin by 350 points over Andrey Rublev, who is trailing at second, and will keep half of the 600 points that he earned by virtue of reaching the Madrid final in 2019 until 2022.