Stefanos Tsitsipas says he is close to unlocking “zen mode” on the tennis court and is physically prepared to outlast the sport’s emerging stars to carve out another deep Australian Open run.
The Greek world No.4 has made the semi-finals in three of his last four Melbourne Park campaigns and started his season impressively in the new mixed teams United Cup in Perth.
The 24-year-old breezed past former world No.7 David Goffin 6-3 6-2 on Monday, leaving Greece needing just one win from their three remaining matches against Belgium on Tuesday to qualify for Wednesday’s city final.
The winner of that will fly to Sydney for semi-finals from Friday before the Australian Open begins on January 16.
“It is a very nice place to be in,” Tsitsipas said of his form against Goffin.
“I wish I can be in that place more often.
“You cannot allow yourself to feel like God when you are on the court unless you’ve reached that, let’s say, the flow state, which has happened to me a few times last season.
“I hope it will happen this season, where you feel like everything just goes your way, there is no more thinking involved.
“It’s a very nice place to be … let’s call it zen mode that I’m seeking.”
Tsitsipas also made the 2021 French Open final but is still seeking a first major title.
He is mindful that the next crop of young tennis stars, led by 19-year-old world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, has already arrived.
“I was keen to add something extra to my game because I have some new competitors now that I need to be competing against that are really strong, really fit, they run all over the court, they serve really well,” Tsitsipas said of his pre-season.
“There has been a lot of thought put into this process of, ‘How am I going to keep up with this?’.
“Physically I have never been better in terms of lasting on the court, being able to last long, tough and hot matches that I will have to play this summer here in Australia.”
Source: AAP
