Stefanos Tsitsipas shot Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

One of the top contenders for the men’s Wimbledon title, Stefanos Tsitsipas, has hit out at two-time champion Rafael Nadal, saying the Spanish legends’ different routines… have cost him his career.

Greek star Tsitsipas, ranked fifth in the world, is a former finalist at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros. He opened his tournament at Wimbledon on Tuesday morning against Austria’s Dominic Thiem and was delighted when rain interrupted play. He has previously only reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Let’s talk to a Greek news site Sports DNA Ahead of his match against Thiem, Tsitsipas was asked about the apparent inevitability of a second title for reigning champion Novak Djokovic, who has won the previous two Wimbledon finals.

How do you feel as a top five player and title contender when you hear from experts and non-experts that Novak Djokovic has the trophy in his pocket? reporter Vicky Georgatou asked.

Somehow he has! Tsitsipas was joking.

He’s stubborn, that’s the truth for me. And I want like crazy to be able to win and show that I can do something too, but he found a secret recipe to be in every slam and go deep with no problem against any opponent. It works like clockwork!

I have followed his routines and seen how professional he is in what he does. It’s completely normal for him to play at this level.

At this point, Tsitsipas offered a comparison to Nadal, who recently missed the French Open for the first time in 19 years due to a hip injury.

“I don’t want to say anything bad about Nadal, but he has different routines that have cost him his career because of injuries, and I know why these things happen,” Tsitsipas said.

Novak has avoided it. His diet is the most incredible in tennis, his recovery is the most advanced I’ve seen.

So I also take some elements and add them to my own tennis. I think that’s also why he’s so strong at an age where you think your level is going down, which is normal.

A week before Wimbledon, Tsitsipas contributed to the biggest debate of all time when he said that Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer are all great, although he refused to name his choice.

Some say numbers matter, grand slam titles. Others that it is more the number of fans that a player has drawn to tennis that matters. There are many versions of who is the best. Let people draw their own conclusions.

Tsitsipas fell victim to Nick Kyrgios last year, when the Australian made a stunning run to the Wimbledon final. Asked if the defeat had given him ammunition for the future, the Greek replied: Yes, absolutely.

And he went on to take a rather dull shot at Kyrgios, who withdrew from this year’s tournament a day before his first-round match, citing a wrist injury.

“For me, Kyrgios is a good player on grass, although he may not be that professional in some things, like fitness, and we all know that,” Tsitsipas said.

He has talent, and he plays on a surface where it’s not as physically demanding as clay, for example. He will survive. Let’s put it this way.

He said he learned my lesson and it was his mistake to let Kyrgios put him in the wrong headspace during his match.

In the future I know this will be his main tactic. He said it himself (in the Netflix documentary) Break Point. I look forward to it in our next match. I want to keep playing against players like him because I think if I can beat Kyrgios, Djokovic or Alcaraz, that’s the door that opens for a grand slam champion.

Tsitsipas talks about a new tennis love match

Tsitsipas is not only known for his abilities on the field. She is also the other half of a famous tennis glamor couple, the other half being Spain’s Paula Badosa who also competes at Wimbledon. Badosa, ranked 35th in the world, is scheduled to play her first-round match against American Alison Riske-Amritraj on Wednesday, weather permitting. Like Tsitsipas, he has previously reached the fourth round.

Tsitsipas by no means resented the couple’s attention, but spoke openly about their relationship in his interview.

For the past three years I have loved him very much, she said.

I first saw him at the Australian Open in 2020 on the TV in my apartment and I remember him vividly now. It’s rare that I see someone on TV and like their energy so much, and I’ve never met them.

With the swing of the last few years, I was given the opportunity to get to know him more and more.

Their connection was strengthened when he sent her congratulations on winning the tour, having been impressed with how he handled a difficult opponent.

The truth is that he was a big fan of mine before that and I was (of him) because of the way he played, while I also liked his character and his personality. It was a common thing on both sides, Tsitsipas said.

It was meant to happen, there were so many signs. I won’t go into detail because it will take me an hour! In a way, I feel like I’m falling in love for the first time in my life. I never expected this to happen and it gives me a new perspective on life, it makes me happier. Whether I win the Titles or lose, it doesn’t matter to me, I know we are here to create beautiful moments together.

I support him as much as I can, along with my tennis. I’m there for him. I love him very much and will love him forever.

Love doesn’t always seem to be a bad thing in tennis. However, Tsitsipas wanted to emphasize that his relationship did not undermine his ambition.

“Tennis is my daily life and it’s my only job,” he explained.

So we’ve also made it clear, Paula and I, that tennis is going to be our number one goal, and what we’re going to do, and we’re here for each other, to support each other and to live the dream together.

We both want to win a grand slam and I hope we can do it together soon.

In theory, it can still happen in less than two weeks.