“The most frustrating part about losing in the first round of a Grand Slam is that you have way too much time to recover,” exclaimed Stefanos Tsitsipas on January 13, moments after his shocking opening-round exit from the AO, where American Alex Michelsen outplayed him 7-5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. The 11th seed then stumbled through the ATP Rotterdam Open and the Qatar Open, failing to make a deep run in either tournament. But just when the season seemed bleak, fortune finally smiled upon the Greek ace. In a stunning turnaround, he recently stormed into his first final of the year at the Dubai Championships. And the secret behind his resurgence at the top? It was a game-changing decision that fueled his return to form after a rough start.

After a disappointing run Down Under, Tsitsipas fell in the QF in Rotterdam, losing to Mattia Bellucci in straight sets by 6-4, 6-2. In Qatar, he battled fiercely in a thriller against Serbian Hamad Medjedovic in R32 but fell short in a nail-biting contest that ended in 3 sets: 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-7 (5-7). However, the Dubai Open proved to be a turning point.

Tsitsipas kicked off his campaign in style, breezing past Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego in the R32 before outclassing Karen Khachanov in the R16. The 11th seed then conquered another Italian, Matteo Berrettini, in the QF before delivering a clinical performance in the Round of 4, dismantling Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets: 6-4, 6-4, and making it to his first final in the season. Now, in the summit clash later today, the Greek faces 24-year-old Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime.

Right after his semifinal victory against Griekspoor, Tsitsipas hinted at a game-changing adjustment that revitalized his season starting in Dubai and paved the way for his resurgence at the end. At the post-match press conference after the SF, he was asked about the switch in rackets ahead of the Dubai Open and how it impacted his game. “It was kind of a no-brainer… It’s foolish of me not to try and make the change because it’s too obvious that it doesn’t really benefit me or help me. These changes sometimes are necessary because you don’t want to be stuck in the same pattern over and over again,” the Greek said. However, what specific racket modifications facilitated his advancement to an ATP 500 final?

Tsitsipas, who has a costly habit of breaking rackets, has long relied on the Wilson Blade: one of the most popular racquets on the pro tour, both in ATP and WTA, renowned for its precision, feel, and all-court versatility. Since its debut in 2008, the Blade franchise has been a go-to choice for many top-seeded players, with Tsitsipas opting for the ‘98 square-inch head size, an 18×20 string pattern, and Luxilon 4G strings. However, in Dubai, keen-eyed observers noticed something different in his blades. The Greek ace was seen wielding a ‘blacked-out racket,’ still bearing his signature Wilson logo but seemingly distinct from his usual ‘Blade 98.’ 

Upon closer inspection, his new weapon of choice appeared to be the Babolat Pure Aero 98: the very same model favored by four-time GS champion Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. If the switch is indeed confirmed, it marks a significant shift in Tsitsipas’ equipment setup as well as gameplay, suggesting he’s searching for more spin, power, and a fresh edge to his game- one that has already propelled him to his first final of the season in Dubai.

As he steps onto the court for his first ATP final since Barcelona last year, where he was defeated by Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas is prepared to face Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime for the tenth time. This promises to be a crackerjack of a contest, and the Greek shared his thoughts ahead of this match up.

“I feel extremely happy” — Stefanos Tsitsipas after reaching his 1st hard-court final since 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas is on the verge of reclaiming his place in the ATP Top 10 singles rankings. With his 3rd career final in Dubai, he is now just one win away from breaking back into the elite rankings after a disappointing start to the season. Dubai has been a stronghold for Tsitsipas, having previously reached the finals there in 2019 and 2020, boasting an impressive 14-4 win-loss record at the Middle East event. However, one milestone still eludes him: his first ATP 500 title. 

Despite stellar performances over the years, Tsitsipas has fallen short in 11 finals at the ATP 500 level. However, with another shot at glory now, he is determined to change his fortunes. The 26-year-old reflected on his SF performance against Griekspoor and emphasized what it meant to be back in the Dubai final. “I feel extremely happy that I was able to avoid the drama today and play good tennis,” he said after the match. 

After narrowly losing in the Dubai finals to Roger Federer in 2019 and Novak Djokovic in 2020, can the Greek finally turn things around and win the title this time around?