AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 21, 2026

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Press Conference

S. TSITSIPAS/S. Mochizuki

4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Stefanos, you had a long match today but came through. What kind of confidence does that give you going into your next match?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I got connected well towards the end of the match and showed that I'm getting into a roll, a proper one. I seemed pretty confident in most of my shots, the way I was trying to build my game around my best strokes.

I wasn't exactly sure how certain things were not working in the beginning. There was a little bit of frustration. There was a bit of a confusion from my end.

You know, I would also owe it to dropping a bit of tension during the match. I felt it did help me get a bit easier depth on my shots. I did loosen up my strings a bit, got a built more free depth and didn't have to swing as hard.

Yeah, it did help me actually. It did help me go forward more, get a feel of the ball. A small detail but I won't lie, it helped.

Q. Well played. Just curious what wasn't working at the start in the first set?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I felt like I was just swinging so hard and nothing was really coming out of my racquet. So I felt like I was spending more energy than him. He seemed more effortless in the way he was trying to build the points and come up with good shots.

I felt like I was constantly swinging, swinging, swinging. I had a lot of unforced errors at the net. I feel like more than I'm used to. So, you know, it was a question of how do I manage and how do I like stream my energy better knowing when to attack, and also allowing myself to not have every muscle of my body contracted every single time I'm trying to hit.

So it did help, the thing I just mentioned. It helped. Eased up my shots a little bit. It gave me a bit of free depth. I didn't have to swing as hard. So I did find a lot of help there.

My mind's also changed. I felt like the more the match progresses, the more you get to play points, the more you like read the game, the more you start becoming acclimatized to the shot-making and angles that come your way.

Q. He looks like a pretty unique player in terms of how flat he hits, coming to the net, even though he's so small. What do you make of his game and the way he plays?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Well, you don't get to play many players like that on the tour. He's the biggest weapon. I mean, it's an obvious one his backhand. You can tell he builds a lot of points around his backhand, approaching to the net. He's actually very daring. Not the biggest guy on the tour, but he has good speed, he plays daring tennis, coming to the net which, actually, you know, good for him because it's a good way to win points.

Yeah, and his biggest asset was just being solid, not giving me much to play, room to play with. I feel like he did that very well in the first set.

He kept sort of grabbing me and not letting me sort of do my thing. He didn't make it very easy but, you know, I was confident because I know I can hit good forehands, I can open up the court, have a good serve.

It's just how do I align those things and put them all together so they start giving me points and games and maybe perhaps sets.

So that was the whole question of how do I put them all together so I can still stay with him but also use those weapons when necessary.

Q. One of the most unique things about tennis is that you share a locker room with players you go out and play against and your rivals. I know it's something you're used to, but are there ever any situations where it's quite awkward where the player before or after a match, or even if you go in the locker room and someone's upset you know after a match?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: We don't have a lot of situations like that. I feel like everyone is cool with everyone. Obviously there are players that it's harder to get a Hi from when you cross pass them.

I was having a conversation with my fitness coach today and, you know, one thing I don't understand about certain tennis players is how they develop a bit of an attitude and a bit of an ego once they make one or two good results. Their whole personality kind of changes. I wouldn't say arrogant. Perhaps some of them.

I just wish more tennis players weren't attached to their results and to what they do that determines who they are. I love humble people. That's one of the reason I actually admire a lot Giannis Antetokounmpo. He's achieved so much through basketball. He's one of the most humble athletes I've ever met and spent time with. I wish more tennis players were like that.

I'm not saying tennis players are arrogant, I'm just saying there are a few instances of tennis players here and there that, you know, you will try and say hi to them, I'm not asking to like have a conversation with that particular player, but it will be nice when you cross someone, at least say hi.

I've realized certain people are just not in the same frequency, that's all. I just wish it was more normal on the tour to be like that.