‘Want to Be His Successor’- Going Against the Style Shift of Tennis, Stefanos Tsitsipas Offers the Ultimate Tribute to Roger Federer and Pete Sampras at the 2023 US Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Milos Raonic in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. Tsitsipas applied a formula that achieved a high success rate in the past. The Greek revealed Pete Sampras and Roger Federer as his biggest inspirations growing up, placing them in high regard. Tsitsipas has reached the fourth round in all the Slams except for the US Open. The Greek’s form has fluctuated over the past months, and a victory against the former Top 10 can give him the boost he needs.

A mix of shots inspired by the Swiss Maestro and Pete Sampras guaranteed a victory for the Greek. When asked about his shot selection, the Los Cabos Open winner shared a significant aspect he wants to continue as Federer hung his racket.

Stefanos Tsitsipas swears not to let Roger Federer’s legacy die

Tsitsipas is the first Greek player, male or female, to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam. Guess who he beat to achieve this feat? His idol, the Swiss Maestro. The Greek stunned the Swiss veteran in 2109 at the Australian Open. In the post-match conference, Federer admitted that he, too, could see similarities between Tsitsipas and his own game.

More than 3 years later, in the US Open, Tsitsipas beats Raonic by playing Federer’s trademark single-handed backhand. In the post-match conference, the ATP 7th seed said, “Well, the game has definitely shifted more towards double-handed backhands. Safer shot, some may say; easier to control others may say. But I still have faith and belief in the single-handed backhand.”

Tsitsipas also said he wants the single-handed backhand to survive: “I’m here to kind of not have it die. I won’t say successor, but the reason I do play a single-handed backhand is because of Roger. I kind of in a way want to be his successor, as big as this may sound.”

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In the interview, the current World No. 7 also admitted one thing that proves that he knows precisely where he stands and what he has to do to achieve his goals.

Tsitsipas sets sights on legendary Sampras-Federer legacy

When Pistol Pete dominated the Grand Slams, Federer ended his reign at the Wimbledon Championships in 2001. Tsitsipas achieved a similar feat when he beat Federer. The iconic shift between generations came out of the blue and yet resulted in a subtle paradigm shift. All three players have a similar signature shot, but one difference remains: the Greek is yet to achieve glory along the lines of Sampras or Federer.

Tsitsipas revealed that he considered the legendary American player a personal hero while growing up. Federer and Sampras were also compared to each other when the Swiss legend was a rising star. Now, the Greek finds himself on the same ship. Tsitsipas agreed that he is not even close to where the legends are, but their legacy is a driving force behind why he pursues a single-handed backhand.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist stated that he is attached to the trademark style of the two legendary players. But Tsitsipas is on his path, too, as he does not wish to copy the tennis veterans simply; he only acknowledges the greatness of their signature shot.

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