Stefanos Tsitsipas is excited to be competing at the Open Parc Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes Lyon this week and the World No. 5 hopes to test himself in his quest for a seventh ATP Tour title.
The Greek star, who leads the FedEx ATP Race To Turin for a place at the Nitto ATP Finals in November, admitted on Tuesday, “I don’t feel exhausted, and I wanted to come to Lyon to test myself this week. It’s another opportunity to show how far I can go and play more matches on clay.”
Tsitsipas, who lost to World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a rain-interrupted Internazionali BNL d’Italia quarter-final last week, has compiled a 29-8 match record this season, including his first ATP Masters 1000 crown at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (d. Rublev).
“I still feel far from being consistent, compared to other players,” said Tsitsipas, who will play American Tommy Paul or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France in the Lyon second round. “I have been quite consistent, but there is a fine gap that I can close. I am always trying to reach a level of perfection, which I have yet to reach yet.
“I am happy to stay in the lead in the [FedEx] ATP Race To Turin. I need to find a little more consistency this year. I have a lot of points and I feel I need to earn more in the second half of the year in order to reach the goals and expectations for the year. I know the second half of the year will be difficult.
“I definitely feel better physically than I did last year. I have developed routines and habits in order to improve my consistency and ensure that I am mentally there in every single match that I play.”
When asked about his form ahead of Roland Garros, which begins on 30 May, the 23-year-old said, “A lot of players have been playing great, but it may not translate into the French. I need to concentrate on the French, more than any other big event.
“I feel [that] I’m in a position I’ve never been in before, so it’s exciting. I want to try and replicate my form, but I know it’s two weeks of hell. It’s difficult, but I want to stay focused on my goal.”
Tsitsipas lost to Djokovic in last year’s Roland Garros semi-finals, but believes if he plays the way he did against the World No. 1 last week in Rome, then his chances of rising up the FedEx ATP Rankings will only improve.
“These are the challenges I need to take my game to the next level,” said Tsitsipas. “If I played the way I did against every single opponent, I don’t see a reason why I won’t improve my Ranking.”