“There was No Income from Family”: Stefanos Tsitsipas Reveals His Journey Through Financial Trauma

From Athens in Greece, the 22-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas couldn’t have imagined coming this far. Today, the highest-ranked Greek professional is defending his ATP Finals title in London. To be the 6 best in the world, he has walked the hard road, all the way up to the top. Now, he dreams of making the sport popular in his country by being a standing example of success.

The two-time Gram Slam finalist came to the limelight when he beat four Top 10 opponents in the 2018 Canadian Open. He later succumbed to World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the finals but carried a fearless approach throughout. However, this confidence is only a result of the hardship and circumstances he’s experienced from his childhood.

Stefanos Tsitsipas has been a permanent fixture in the Top 10 since 2018

Carrying out a full-fledged tennis career is never easy on the pockets. Tsitsipas, coming from a non-tennis playing country, without any financial support, endured against all coming odds. He said, “My cousins were unemployed, my father’s siblings were also unemployed. There was no income from family.”

Looking at his father’s declined credit cards and seeking help from his maternal aunt, Stefanos became transparent with his life’s goal.

Although a persistent leg edema has thrown up a minor obstacle for him in 2020, Tsitsipas will aim to preserve his biggest title in London. One cannot deny the determination that the Greek player holds.

“I am proud that I managed it”: Tsitsipas

The 6’4” right-handed player has continued to believe in himself and given the possibilities now, he’s stronger than ever. Stefanos said, “Thinking of it now, I’m very proud that I managed it in the right way and I didn’t freak out. I could have easily freaked out and felt more the pressure of it at the time.”

On his journey to make tennis popular in Greece, Tsitsipas is already half-way there, given where his career is at right now. Tsitsipas will face a lot of challenges ahead, but only in terms of big opponents.

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