By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday January 18, 2022

What makes Stefanos Tsitsipas a special player on hard courts? A reporter put the question to the fourth-ranked Greek on Tuesday night after his first-round victory over Mikael Ymer.



Tsitsipas, who will fade Argentina’s Sebastian Baez in round two, was quick to answer: his ability to get to the net and execute aggressive volleys is what sets him apart.

“I have a great net game, and some of the players, most of the players don't have the ability to come to the net the way I do and to cover the court and win a lot of points with volleys,” Tsitsipas said. “They simply don't have it. So I think it's something that is in my advantage, and I have been working my entire lifetime to perfect that.”

Tsitsipas says the added variety makes him more versatile. He’s happy he doesn’t have to remain anchored to the baseline like some of the other players on tour.

“I think being on a good serve day and feeling good from the baseline that can be a huge additive to my game and give me big opportunities to do things that others simply wouldn't be able to, because they rely a lot on their baseline game,” he said. “Obviously their baseline game is great and rock solid, but they don't have a plan B if they feel like there is something else that I can add to that. They don't have the same net skills, I think, and I believe that I do.

“Perhaps other things they might have better than I, but in this department, I think I'm in favor,” he said.