Breaking News: Stefanos Tsitsipas Pinpoints the Part of His Game He Wants to See Change Despite Italian Open Opening Victory
Stefanos Tsitsipas may have started his Italian Open campaign with a confident win, but the Greek star isn’t completely satisfied with his performance. Following his straight-sets victory in Rome, the World No. 8 revealed the key area of his game that he believes still needs urgent improvement.
Tsitsipas cruised past Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in his opening match, winning 6-4, 6-3 in under 90 minutes. Despite the comfortable result, Tsitsipas admitted in his post-match press conference that his return game remains a concern — and one he’s determined to improve as the tournament progresses.
“I still feel like I can do much better with my returns,” Tsitsipas stated candidly. “It’s an area I’ve been working on, but I need to be more consistent, especially against the top guys who won’t give away many free points.”
The 25-year-old has long been regarded as one of the most complete players on tour, with a powerful forehand, versatile one-handed backhand, and outstanding movement on clay. However, his return of serve has often been identified as a relative weakness — a vulnerability that has cost him in high-stakes matches against the likes of Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev.
“I’ve been playing well, and I love competing here in Rome,” Tsitsipas added. “But if I want to go deep in this tournament, I’ll need to take advantage of more return opportunities and apply pressure early in the rallies.”
His honest self-assessment comes at a crucial time in the clay season, with the French Open just around the corner. Tsitsipas, a finalist in Roland Garros in 2021, is widely considered a top contender on the surface. Yet his path to Grand Slam glory will undoubtedly require him to sharpen every aspect of his game — especially his ability to break serve.
Up next for the Greek star is a potential third-round clash with either Fabio Fognini or Alex de Minaur, depending on results. With the field in Rome packed with top talent and the likes of Djokovic, Sinner, and Medvedev lurking, Tsitsipas knows every edge will matter.
“Winning is great, but growing through each match is more important,” he said. “There’s more work to do.”
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