Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ change of heart must have left Greek tennis fans dancing. With the Paris Olympics less than two months away, the speculations about some of the most awaited matches have started to simmer. Adding to this excitement, the 25-year-old seems to have changed his mind about mixed doubles, gearing up for one of the most hectic physical challenges.

The Greek star is all set to play in all three draws at the Paris Olympics, months after he raised doubts over the possibility of pairing up with Maria Sakkari for mixed doubles. This surprising turn of events was shared by tennis commentator and journalist Jose Morgado. Taking to the microblogging platform X, Morgado announced, “Great news (especially for Greeks). Tsitsipas changed his mind and is playing mixed with Sakkari.”

Earlier, Tsitsipas had expressed concerns about the physical challenge of playing in all three draws, emphasizing his desire to prioritize men’s singles and doubles. He planned to pair up with his brother, Petros Tsitsipas, for the men’s doubles, provided both players qualified for the tournament. “I know that it’s the Olympics and it’s a great opportunity to play with Maria. But at the same time, I have a dream with my brother I’d like to share and be one of the very few brothers that have ever played together in the Olympics, especially in tennis. Nothing is stronger than that dream,” Tsitsipas had stated previously.

This admission had left Maria Sakkari out in the cold, hoping Stefanos would change his mind. “I would like to play mixed doubles because I really think we have a good chance,” the world number 7 had said in early April. Expressing optimism, she added that since mixed doubles is just a 16-draw game, winning two matches could land them in the semi-finals. “It’s a 16-draw, you win two matches you’re in the semis and then you get a chance to win a medal,” she shared.

Maria and Stefanos have played together on multiple occasions and have complemented each other well. They shared the court at the United Cup, the Hopman Cup, and the Eisenhower Cup. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the duo reached the quarterfinals. Stefanos will be preparing to face a tough challenge at the Olympics. However, what is more crucial for him is qualifying for the men’s doubles with his brother to fulfill his ‘dream’.

Can the Tsitsipas brothers fulfill their dream?

Stefanos Tsitsipas has often remarked on his dream of playing with his brother at the Olympics. However, this dream can only be realized if both manage to qualify for the event. The qualification for the Paris Olympics will conclude soon after the French Open ends. While it remains unclear if the brothers will secure their spot in the tournament, several questions will only be answered after the French Open.

The Tsitsipas brothers debuted as a pair in 2019 and have been playing together since. Although they struggled to achieve much success initially, they clinched their first ATP title in 2023 in Antwerp.

This season hasn’t been particularly fruitful for the brothers, as they faced first-round exits at the Australian Open, Los Cabos, and Acapulco. With the upcoming transition from clay to grass courts—from the French Open to Wimbledon—it will be no easy feat for the brothers to achieve their Olympic dream, especially considering the Olympics will return to clay courts. It will be interesting to see if they can accomplish their goal and qualify for the tournament.