Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a tricky clay season so far, but he has a chance to finish the swing well at Roland Garros.
Tsitsipas made the last eight of the Monte-Carlo Masters in April, but since retiring due to injury in his quarter-final clash with Arthur Fils at the Barcelona Open the following week, the world number 20 has found wins hard to come by on his preferred surface.
The 26-year-old suffered third-round exits at both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.
In 2021, Tsitsipas made the final of Roland Garros, where, after taking a two-set lead, he ultimately lost to Novak Djokovic.
Since then, he has failed to emulate his best campaign at the tournament, having exited in the quarter-final stage two years in a row.
Tsitsipas spoke about the near-miss in 2021 ahead of this year’s French Open, and explained what he realised about the current state of tennis watching the final back recently.
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty ImagesStefanos Tsitsipas pinpoints two things he realised watching back the 2021 Roland Garros final
Speaking on the 2021 final, Tsitsipas said: “Last week I watched 25-30 minutes of it, and it made me realise how much of a different player I am today than I was back then. I would say even better now than in that particular final.
“I just want to pinpoint, tennis has become much more intense, in terms of having to keep up with the level, and that’s what I’ve realised being in that final.
“Tennis is very much different now than it was before Jannik and Carlos came around the corner, but also there are a bunch of guys now that are following in their footsteps and showing the same type of potential.
“I feel like the lineup right now is much more difficult than it was back then, players are so much more mature.
“Shots have changed, players have second forehands in this very moment, so I have to adapt my game and I have to consider certain things moving forward.
“It’s growing a lot in intensity, and physically, it has never been in a position like the way it is now, so I see constant evolution and constant growth in the sport.”
Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty ImagesStefanos Tsitsipas’ route to the French Open final in 2021
Tsitsipas didn’t drop a set in his first two matches at Roland Garros in 2021, with comfortable victories over Jeremy Chardy and Pedro Martinez.
His third-round opponent came in the form of John Isner, who he was able to overcome after losing the first set.
Following another win against Pablo Carreno Busta in the fourth round, Tsitsipas came up against second seed Daniil Medvedev.
The Greek star triumphed over the Russian to book his place in the semi-final for the second year in a row.
Then, in a five-set marathon, Tsitsipas defeated Alexander Zverev in the final four to clinch a maiden Grand Slam final.