ROLAND GARROS

June 6, 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

C. ALCARAZ/S. Tsitsipas

6-2, 6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: English questions.

Q. Can you explain how tough is the challenge to play against Alcaraz?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, guys, I don't have a lot of things to tell you. He played great. I mean, I don't think he played exceptional, but he played great.

One thing that I'm going to try to avoid in the future is have melatonin pills and naps before matches because it clearly doesn't seem to be working.

Q. You've played both Carlos and Novak on this court. How are the experiences different, and who do you think is going to win?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I root for the young kids.

Q. Can you just explain, you said you're not going to take a melatonin pill again. Have you been doing that for naps this week or just today, or...

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Schedule has been a little bit difficult the last few days. I had some late-night sessions. Not super late, but late enough for me to kind of have my sleep schedule ruined, in a way. You know, sleep is a very vital important thing, and recovery is "the" most important thing when competing and playing big slams like this.

So I've made the mistake in the past before playing Novak in Bercy one year, and I had the exact same score as I did in those first two sets. So I feel like melatonin really likes 1 and 2.

Q. So you just came out really sluggish or feeling like that, or...

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, look, I don't want to take anything from Carlos. The kid plays well. He deserves to win and everything. Let's just not talk about it. I'm really bummed about it, that it had such an effect on me, and let's move on.

Q. Stef, we know how passionate you are about tennis and what a big part it is of your life. Why do you think it affects you so much about whether you win or you lose, and after you lose a match, do you ever think that that affects about how you feel about yourself as a person?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Wow, that's a deep question. Do I feel affected right now? A little bit? Well, I guess it's normal. It means I care, no? It would be bad if I didn't. I care a lot. Tennis means a lot to me, and these days are never fun to be experiencing.

I feel like it's important to have people around you that understand, and try and leave those moments with you. I wouldn't say compassion or anything like that, but people feel for you, especially in your inner circle.

I'm just happy to be playing tennis. It wasn't really that much fun out there in the first two sets. I felt completely off, kind of like sleeping in a way.

I just wish it never happens again. It sucks.

Q. I'm sure you're not too interested in what happens in the semifinal between these two guys at a time like this, but I just wonder, given that you played Novak in a final of a Grand Slam fairly recently, I know you've played Carlos tonight in a big match, could you compare the two as a challenge, what they're like to play against?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: What differences are in terms of playing style?

Well, one has experience; the other one has legs and moves like Speedy Gonzalez, so you have that. One can hit huge, super big shots; and the other one prefers control over anything else, probably control and precision, to apply pressure and just make the opponent move as much as possible.

I'm not good at predictions, so I'll stay away from it. But let's see. Let the best player win.