“Was Underdeveloped”: Stefanos Tsitsipas Reveals How He Transformed His Body After Turning Professional

Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has opened up about his lean and mean frame, which can work both ways in men’s tennis. 

Speaking to reporters after posting an emphatic win over Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach the semifinals of Barcelona Open, the current World No.5 said he used to be a tall fellow in his initial years in tennis, with not many muscles on his bones.

The Greek added that he did some fitness work back then with his coaches in his homeland, but it was nothing compared to the hours of toil that he puts in now to shape up for the challenges and rigors of professional tennis.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says he wasn’t muscular to start with

Tsitsipas currently does most of his fitness and training work at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Nice, France, under the watchful eyes of his coaches.

“I was tall and lean and wasn’t very muscular. I did work with a fitness coach back in Greece, but it was nothing compared to the fitness I’m doing now with my team in Mouratoglou academy,” the World No.5 said.

He added that his fitness coach Freddie Clifford has worked diligently on him to build the physique that he has now.

Tsitsipas further said that his body can now withstand the pressures of professional tennis and even help him scrape home from tight corners.

“My fitness coach Freddie Clifford has helped a lot to develop the body that I have today,” the Greek said, adding, “It has helped me and carried me in difficult situations.”

He said back in his teens he used to be lean and wiry, not anywhere near the fitness levels and physical attributes of some of his contemporaries.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says some of his rivals were developed than him and that put them at an advantage

“I was not as physical as I’m now, lacked a bit of strength. I was underdeveloped, I would also say. These guys (his rivals) were more developed than me back then and probably, that was something that benefitted them a bit more,” Tsitsipas said.

Carrying his winning momentum from Monte-Carlo, the Greek stormed into the final of the Barcelona Open with a straight-set rout of Miami Open runners-up Jannik Sinner.

Read More: Who is Stefanos Tsitsipas’s Girlfriend Theodora Petalas? How Did the Two Meet?

However, between Tsitsipas and his second straight-set title on clay this year stands the irrepressible ‘King of Clay’  – Rafael Nadal.