“Amazing Ambiance”: Stefanos Tsitsipas Recalls His 2019 French Open Clash Against Stan Wawrinka

World No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas finally became an ATP Masters 1000 champion after he defeated Andrey Rublev in the Monte Carlo Masters 2021 final. Each year he has grown in skill and experience to become a better clay-court player.

Last year, he reached the French Open semifinal following some great performances and just lost out to World No.1 Novak Djokovic in a crunch five-setter. But before 2020, Tsitsipas had played one of Roland Garros’ classics against Stan Wawrinka.

Stefanos Tsitsipas recently in an interview with the French Open discussed the Grand Slam and the feel of France. He fondly remembers some of his matches on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

“Amazing ambiance and also the grinds when you compete and play under the Parisian sun and the Parisian crowd. I had some of my most memorable and most significant matches on Parisian soil.”

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ classics against Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic at French Open

In the 2019 French Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas faced Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round. At that time, Tsitsipas was on an upward trajectory while Wawrinka was on a decline. But being a Grand Slam champion, Wawrinka came with a promise. The match was evenly poised from the first point as Wawrinka just edged the contest in the final set- 8-6.

Similarly, in the 2020 French Open, Tsitsipas faced the daunting challenge of World No.1 Djokovic in the semis. The Serbian had quickly taken a 2-0 lead in the match only for the Greek to make an unreal comeback. Tsitsipas had reportedly suffered an injury in the final set and thus dropped his challenge, but any fan would laud the effort.

“I feel the love from them. There is something really special when they connect with me. I think they are very loyal and they give very good gifts and they respect my work and effort,” Tsitsipas on the French Open crowd.

The 2021 clay court season has just begun and Tsitsipas looks ready to mount a stronger challenge in the main clay tournaments ahead in the calendar in Mutua Madrid Open, Italian Open, and French Open.

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