How Greek star rebuilt after Kyrgios implosion

1 year ago 53

Australian tennis large Mark Philippoussis says Stefanos Tsitsipas has grown since accusing Nick Kyrgios of "bullying" him during a tense Wimbledon brushwood past year.

Tsitsipas was sent packing and past teed disconnected connected the Aussie pursuing a fiery four-setter, with Kyrgios responding by calling the Greek superstar "soft".

The nonaccomplishment to Kyrgios was followed by a first-round exit astatine Flushing Meadows months later, wrapping up a twelvemonth to hide for Tsitsipas.

AS IT HAPPENED: Australian Open 2023 time eight

However, the Tsitsipas that has arrived connected Australian shores this summertime has looked a remarkably antithetic individual.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a beardown showing representing his state astatine the United Cup, and that signifier has carried implicit to the Australian Open, wherever helium is simply a 4th finalist.

Philippoussis was successful Tsitsipas' container arsenic helium blew his apical - and yet the lucifer - against Kyrgios past year, but suggested that the disfigured Wimbledon exit could beryllium to beryllium a turning constituent successful the star's career.

"Wimbledon was a large learning acquisition for him," Philippoussis said.

"He did thing that was precise dissimilar him and helium learnt from it successful the hardest way.

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"That's each you tin do. You enactment yourself successful the presumption and effort and get distant with the win, and if you don't, you privation to larn from it.

"A nonaccomplishment similar that tin really beryllium much beneficial than a win, and I judge that's what happened successful that situation."

Icon sides with Kyrgios aft Tsitsipas furore

The Australian icon started moving with Tsitsipas connected an authoritative ground pursuing Wimbledon and has since noticed a calmer fig retired connected the court.

"Last twelvemonth I was calling each of his matches and it's wholly antithetic than sitting successful the box, but helium looks precise relaxed," helium said.

"I'm getting to cognize him much and more, but conscionable similar immoderate quality being you bash mature much and much each year.

"Also arsenic a player, having the acquisition of being successful the semis past twelvemonth is an vantage and tin assistance successful those large moments, particularly spending clip connected Rod Laver Arena and those large courts."

After breezing done his archetypal 3 matches successful consecutive sets, Tsitsipas faced immoderate precise existent adversity successful his fourth-round clash against the talented Jannik Sinner, with the Italian roaring backmost from a two-set deficit.

While the Tsitsipas of yesteryear whitethorn person crumbled, arsenic helium did successful the 2021 Roland-Garros last erstwhile Novak Djokovic overcame the aforesaid deficit, the Greek prima this clip locked successful and out-executed his foe successful the deciding set.

Philippoussis admitted his relation successful the Tsitsipas box, alongside the star's begetter and manager Apostolos, has been to "bring immoderate calmness".

"He's specified an unthinkable jock physically and he's a earthy rival and he's got a large all-round game," helium said.

"For me, what's hard these days is due to the fact that determination is truthful overmuch exertion and each these stats astatine your fingertips, it's precise casual to get mislaid successful each those things. They are important and you tin usage them successful a beneficial way, but I besides judge players tin get mislaid and hide astir playing their ain game.

Tsitsipas' touching Rod Laver tribute

"So my biggest happening for him is to spell retired determination and person your crippled program and play your crippled and of people marque adjustments according to who you're playing connected that day."

Having reinforced his intelligence toughness, Tsitsipas is present tipped by galore to beryllium acceptable to instrumentality the adjacent measurement successful his career: winning a expansive slam title.

One antheral who's backed him to bash truthful is former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis.

"He's spent a agelong clip connected circuit now," helium said.

"He's been playing semis regularly successful expansive slams, helium played a last successful the French Open, and I deliberation you learn.

"If helium keeps acceptable ... he's going to go No.1 successful the satellite soon."

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