Apostolos on Stefanos Tsitsipas: 'I never had a doubt he would play this level'

Stefanos Tsitsipas entered the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters at No. 12 in the PIF ATP Rankings, his lowest standing since January 2019. His father and coach, Apostolos Tsitsipas maintained his belief in his son and this week the Greek star claimed his third trophy in Monte-Carlo.

“I never had a doubt he would play this level. For sure never had a doubt,” Apostolos said. “Stefanos, he's a dreamer. I could say that also he's still young in his soul, in his mind.

“As every young person they need to believe in life, they need to believe in the targets they put. That's why we are there, to remind them that they deserve to be whatever they are.”

Back in the winner's circle 🏆🏆🏆 @steftsitsipas reigns victorious in Monte-Carlo for a third time after knocking out Ruud 6-1 6-4.@ROLEXMCMASTERS | #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/LRJea4TCrI

— ATP Tour (@atptour) April 14, 2024

Stefanos arrived in the Principality with an 11-6 record on the year and had won just one title since the 2022 grass-court season. But Apostolos explained how important positive energy is in their lives.

“Every day we have to wake up with a positive energy,” he said.

That was rewarded this week. Tsitsipas defeated three Top 10 opponents — Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner and Casper Ruud — to claim his first title of the year.

“Always when you overcome all these difficulties, all these obstacles after a tough week, we know very well what it means to play at these levels, it's a huge release for everyone, for the team,” Apostolos said. “It's definitely satisfaction that we manage to succeed, make the best out of it. That's the feeling.”

Not only did Tsitsipas lift the trophy, but he did so in mostly dominant fashion. With the exception of his semi-final against Jannik Sinner — the in-form player on the ATP Tour — the Greek did not lose a set.

“It’s one of the best tournaments he did so far from the coaching perspective. I could say that the level was, yes, one of his best on clay courts,” Apostolos said. “There were some moments that he was in the zone, as we say in tennis, and he managed to stay there sometimes for a very long time, which is really very beautiful. Hopefully we [are] gonna see that in the future again, and then we will see some great tennis from Stefanos.”

As happy as the Tsitsipas family is for Stefanos’ triumph this week in Monte-Carlo, there are many big tournaments in the coming weeks. As Apostolos noted, there is a “long clay season ahead”.

“[It] shows that he's in a good way. [From] his preparation [we] already saw some results,” Tsitsipas said. “It's hopefully going to be fresh and go to Roland Garros with the best possible performance.”