The new tennis season is officially underway, and the excitement is hitting an all-time high. But with a fresh season comes a chance for players to turn the page, make adjustments, and aim for bigger heights. One player who might be looking at 2025 as a season of redemption is none other than Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek star had his fair share of ups and downs last year, often struggling to turn big wins into lasting momentum.  Now, as he looks to bounce back, Andy Roddick, never one to mince words, has shared his thoughts on the Greek sensation’s journey.

The former American player engaged in an interaction with Jon Wertheim for his January 1st episode of Served with Roddick Podcast. The duo deliberated on a wide range of factors including how the previous season looked like and made some remarkable predictions for the 2025 season. But when it came to Tsitsipas, Roddick shared that the Greek star has failed to keep up the show that he once depicted on the tennis courts, and despite being a formidable force, he has failed to achieve enough. 

Speaking in the interview, Roddick said, “His first-serve return has to improve somehow someway. When you make a first serve against him you’re normally looking at a ball that you can be aggressive on on the next one. Is he the best mover in the world? No. Is he great when the ball is at him or on him is he Super Creative then? Yes. Is he going to be able to improve his serve 10% at this point? I don’t know.” Notably, data around Tsitsipas’ first-serve returns are not very encouraging. 

In 2023, the Greek star won only 27% of the first-serve return points. This point reached 28% in 2024 and continued to be a cause for concern for Tsitsipas. To make matters worse, the ATP star won only 20% of the return games and 35% of the return points in the previous season, which was also pointed out by Roddick. The American pro also shared that while Tsitsipas possesses incredible skills, he has not played like he once used to. 

“He is amazingly fun to watch. Unfortunately, he’s almost a victim of his own shadow now because he’s been so good in the past I mean we’re talking about a guy that was one set away from winning Roland Garros against one Novak Djokovic and it’s now he’s 11 in the world and we’re going huh. That’s a great accomplishment but just not in comparison to what he’s been the five or six years previous,” Roddick added. In 2021, Tsitsipas dominated the clay courts of Roland Garros and reached the finals of the tournaments. He gave a tough competition to the then World No. 1 Novak Djokovic but eventually lost the match despite winning the first two sets. His struggles, meanwhile, increased remarkably in 2024. 

Last season, Tsitsipas could win only one title at the Monte Carlo Masters. Besides, he managed to qualify for just one another final in Barcelona. His performance in the Grand Slams was further concerning. While he managed to advance to the quarterfinals of the French Open and the 4th round of the Australian Open, he was whisked out in the second round of Wimbledon. At the US Open, he further struggled immensely and was ousted in the first round itself. These defeats did not just impact his gameplay but also his ranking as Tsitsipas, who was once ranked at No. 3 in 2021, is currently standing out of the Top 10, at the 11th spot.

However, Stefanos Tsitsipas is dedicated to making improvements. As he gears up for the first Grand Slam of the year, all the star player wants is to begin things afresh. 

Stefanos Tsitsipas opens up about expecting a “fresh, new 2025”

Stefanos Tsitsipas might have faced challenges but it is the resilience of a player that helps them move forward continuously. And for a player of Tsitsipas’ stature, it is quite difficult to stay away from their A-game for quite a long time. As he steps into a new year, the 26-year-old is determined to make improvements and explore more about his skills and talents. 

Speaking in an interaction during the United Cup in Perth, Tsitsipas shared, “I’m looking to kind of reinvent myself. I felt like I’ve been stuck in a pattern for the last few months, and haven’t been able to unlock the pattern, or get out of it. I’m looking for a fresh, new 2025.” However, he knows that getting success is not easy in a short span of time and needs prolonged dedication. 

Sharing the same, he added, “That doesn’t mean to suddenly just start winning everything, that’s not the point of this. It’s a story of constant improvement, and improving in all fields. Last year was a little bit up and down in terms of results, in terms of feelings. Outside of the court, and on the court.” The question now is: can Tsitsipas rise to the challenge and prove his mettle yet again? Well, that remains to be seen.