By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday May 27, 2022
Stefanos Tsitsipas moved through his second-round match in Paris the same way he moved through his first-round match: he had to battle – hard.
The Greek got past Czech qualifier Zdenek Kolar 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 to set a third-round clash with Sweden’s Mikael Ymer. It hasn’t been easy for the Greek, but he has battled his way through week one with his trademark grit, and he’s proud of that.
“I have to really work to get things in life,” he said after his first-round win over Lorenzo Musettin in Paris. “Things don't come easy. I refuse to give up. That's simply how it works with me. You never really think about getting back after being two sets to love. You just play it point after point. You just wish that your efforts will pay off on a longer scale, longer run.
“You know, being in that situation is like, it's a mountain that you have to climb, and I was able to climb it and regain the momentum steadily but consistently.”
Words are coming easier than wins for the Greek this week in Paris, and Tsitsipas, when asked, was quick to provide a nice comparison of the games of the Lorenzo Musetti and Jannik Sinner, the two young and Rising Italians in his half of the draw.
“In terms of tennis, no, Musetti has a very beautiful, talented-oriented game with his one-handed backhand,” Tsitsipas said. “It's a bit of a mixture of Gasquet a little bit with a bit more attacking and aggressive style.
He can be unpredictable, Musetti, but also, I think he really sticks to what he does. I haven't seen him much changing positions and what's so in his game. I think if he's on a good game, he can really create so many great shots with his one-handed backhand.”
Tsitsipas could end up facing Sinner in the semifinals in Paris, and he says the 20-year-old’s game is predicated on power more than finesse.
“In terms of power, I think maybe Sinner [hits harder],” he said. “Sinner has a powerful game, hits hard. He relies a lot on his big strokes. “I remember Sinner in the early days he was really hitting the ball very hard. I think now he has reduced a little bit. It's always when you're a newcomer, you really play free, you play careless, in a way. Yeah, the tour kind of develops you and structures you in a different way.
The rankings tell a story, with Sinner ranked 12th and Musetti not inside the top-50, but In the end, Tsitsipas said that it’s hard to tell which one is more talented.
“Different styles of tennis. Different styles. Perhaps, very close, very close, yeah.”