Under the bright lights of Perth, and with questions lingering over his fitness, Stefanos Tsitsipas found his rhythm again. Up against World No. 9 Taylor Fritz, the Greek delivered a gritty 6–4, 7–5 win in just one hour and 21 minutes. After all, the 27-year-old visualized his victory in advance and maintained his composure throughout the match.

It was Tsitsipas’ first win against a Top 10 opponent in more than 18 months, and his first Top-20 win since the 2024 Olympics. Remarkably, it’s his first top-10 win on hard courts since November 2023. With this, Stefanos Tsitsipas has now taken his H2H record to 4-2 against the American.

On the other side of the net, Fritz struggled to find his footing while managing his knee tendonitis issues and continued to search for confidence on hard courts. But, with a solid straight set victory, Tsitsipas has firmly announced his resurgence.

In the past twelve months, Fritz (9) has remained a Top 10 staple, but Tsitsipas (34) slipped outside the Top 20 for the first time since 2018, as he struggled with a back injury and searched for form. Last year, the Greek had won just 21 of his 38 matches.

His back injury, an issue that started subtly, grew into an obstacle that impeded his schedule. By late 2025, it had become unbearable. Tsitsipas played his final tournament of the season in September and then stepped away from competition entirely.

As his peers continued chasing titles, he was left battling pain and uncertainty. Stefanos Tsitsipas didn’t hide the emotional weight of that moment.

“The most painful experience was at the Athens Open, not getting to play. It really hurt me a lot, given that it would be my home tournament, the thing that I always dreamt as a child to play a home tournament one day. It didn’t happen. It came in all such a bad moment with my back. So it was a very sensitive period for me emotionally,” he said.

Stefanos Tsitsipas entered the 2026 season with a weight on his shoulders, and he knew it better than anyone else. After a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw him fall from number 8 to 36 in the ATP rankings, Tsitsipas openly admitted he wasn’t satisfied.

His performance lacked consistency; his body struggled to keep up, and his confidence wavered. But in Perth, something shifted. As it turns out, the Greek pro has decided that past setbacks mean little as long as he can continue to push forward.

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ resolve for 2026 season

Before the season even began, Stefanos Tsitsipas made his ambitions pretty clear. “Professionally speaking, I would like to see myself in a Grand Slam final. It doesn’t matter which Grand Slam. That’s my New Year’s resolution. I want to be fit, get healthy, and, at some point in the year, compete in a Grand Slam final again. I don’t want to wait for opportunities. I want to create them myself.”

His last Grand Slam appearance came at the 2023 Australian Open when Tsitsipas lost to Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Can he make yet another deep run in Melbourne, three years later?

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Well, his impressive start at the United Cup could well give him the confidence to bounce back strongly this season. What did he say after his incredible victory against Fritz?

“I tried my best. I was fighting for the team. It was such a great match from my end. Having my teammates by my side is extremely special. I was running out of energy towards the end. They kept me going. The crowd was lovely. Thank you guys for showing so much energy throughout the match.”

One of the most fascinating insights Stefanos Tsitsipas shared was how he mentally prepared for this match. It wasn’t just about physical work; he emphasized how he visualized and rehearsed the battle before stepping on court.

“I was aware of the level I had to bring out today. I really owe it to my team. Putting that much effort on the court, it’s something I was visualizing last night before going to bed. I was playing the match in my mind. I’m happy it went exactly the way I planned it to go. I was especially pleased with my serve and how I dealt with pressure moments. Really clear-headed in my execution and my game plan.”

For a player whose confidence was shaken last year, these words signal a renewed mental strength – a critical ingredient for any champion’s return. Do you think Stefanos Tsitsipas can bounce back inside the Top 10 in 2026?