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Stefanos Tsitsipas had a stable season in 2020. He received 29 matches, reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros and claimed a title in Marseille. However the Greek, like so many different tennis gamers, appeared relieved {that a} tough season got here to an in depth after his final match, a three-set loss to Rafael Nadal in spherical robin play that eradicated him from semifinal competition on the Nitto ATP Finals.
Travelling the globe as knowledgeable tennis participant isn’t straightforward. Gamers are on the go from the primary of the 12 months till the top of November, they usually not often keep in a single metropolis for greater than per week, and infrequently much less. 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic raging, and no crowds to share the expertise with or get energized by, left Tsitsipas with out inspiration and in a darkish place.
“The bubble life itself. … I imply, it will get tiring after some time,” Tsitsipas instructed reporters on Thursday. “Consider your self sitting in a resort room ready on your match all day lengthy, not being able to go wherever.”
The bubble has been hassle for Tsitsipas. He is a social creature, a participant who enjoys going out and assembly pals within the cities he travels to.
“It is troublesome to be in your resort, room service all day lengthy. Not having the chance to see your pals or due to all these variations or— you already know, I’ve a lot of people who I join with once I play tournaments,” he mentioned.
Tsitsipas is a vibrant and bubbly character usually, one that’s fast to converse and at all times wanting to see the constructive aspect of life. However travelling the coronavirus-addled world in 2020, and enjoying in entrance of empty stadiums, has left him feeling gloomy.
“It feels very—to me, it feels very darkish, and truthfully, I am not an individual who sees the darkish aspect of issues. However this complete factor was very troublesome to deal with, to be sincere with you,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “I am very joyful that I did not break down, and I am positive for those who ask different gamers they’ll reply the identical approach.”
Neglect the semifinal at Roland Garros and the finals in Dubai in Hamburg, the 2 High 10 wins and the second consecutive journey to the Nitto ATP Finals. For Tsitsipas 2020 simply didn’t really feel like successful.
“For me, 2020 goes to be a really, I might say, unfulfilling 12 months merely due to the state of affairs that we needed to face,” he mentioned. “I’ll form of see it as an enormous hole wherein we needed to wait to come back again and we got the chance to play from September and on.”
As at all times, Tsitsipas tried to take the positives, to see the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. It often comes straightforward for him. However on Thursday night time in London as he debriefed, we may really feel simply how onerous it had turn into. This pandemic appears to affect everybody, pulling us out of the sunshine and into the gray.
“2020, you already know, I had some good outcomes,” Tsitsipas admitted. “Some unhealthy losses. Some new issues that occurred to me that I did not face previously. Some actually annoying issues and a few stunning issues, as properly. Issues that introduced me a number of pleasure. Additionally allowed for me to, regardless of the pandemic, to attach with sure folks and have some enjoyable, as properly, you already know.
“Yeah, there have been just a few positives I can take from that. I’ll attempt to overlook the negatives, as a result of who wants negativity on this world? Simply wanting on the vibrant aspect of it. Attempting to get to the top of the tunnel and see one thing higher within the close to future.”
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