Tsitsipas has Potential to mix it With the Best

There is no doubting the talent Stefanos Tsitsipas has and with a drive to be up there as one of the best in the game, it’s an exciting time for the Greek star.

As punters look for potential dark horses to cause an upset against the likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this year, many will turn to backing the exciting Tsitsipas.

Tsitsipas Showing Signs of Progress

Going into the first Grand Slam of the year, Tsitsipas was certainly rated a serious contender in the odds on the Australian Open winner. Looking at what the 22-year-old has already been able to achieve in the sport, there was a reason for punters to be optimistic.

The Athens-born star managed to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final at the Australian Open back in 2019, before he was beaten by eventual runner-up Nadal. A year later it was the French Open where Tsitsipas battled his way to the last four, but Djokovic was the man to progress through to the showpiece event at Roland Garros.

The last two years have seen real progress by the right-hander and perhaps, as the likes of Djokovic and Nadal edge ever closer to the conclusions of their careers, Tsitsipas can be one of the players to step up and fill the void at the very top of the game.

High Hopes for Mouratoglou

One man who certainly believes in this man’s potential is experienced coach Patrick Mouratoglou. The Frenchman, who also coaches the great Serena Williams, has worked alongside Tsitsipas’ father Apostolos since his appointment back in 2018. Together the pair have worked closely to get Stefanos competing at the business end of Grand Slam events.

Mouratoglou, who himself has Greek roots, has talked up Tsitsipas’ potential, saying “Stefanos has the potential to win various Grand Slam tournaments.” Meanwhile, his father has also claimed his son is “psychologically” ready to claim a first major crown. That might well be the last piece of the puzzle for Tsitsipas. While his technical game might be in the right place for a Grand Slam title, getting the mental side of his preparations right may be the last few percent needed to get over the line.

Just the Beginning

The man himself is excited by what the future holds for him. Already a winner of five career titles, Tsitsipas claims he sees his rise in the sport so far “just as the beginning”. While admitting he may need a little luck along the way, Tsitsipas feels he is willing to put in all the hard work needed to win a Grand Slam.

Whether punters who back the rising star are rewarded in 2021 remains to be seen, but with so many years ahead of him, Tsitsipas knows there will be plenty of opportunities to succeed in Melbourne, Paris, London or New York.