Tsitsipas’ Advice to the Tour? Stay Humble

As Stefanos Tsitsipas mounts his comeback from a debilitating back injury that sabotaged his 2025 season and made him wonder if he’d ever play the sport pain-free again, the Greek remains a keen observer of life on the tour.

After his 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory over Shintaro Mochizuki, Tsitsipas was asked by a reporter about locker room interactions with his peers. The reporter, working on a story, has been asking many players what it’s like to share the room with adversaries. Are there weird moments? Any stories to share?

Tsitsipas, known for posting random philosophical soliloquys on social media (an acquired taste, but entertaining and certainly not generic), took the question as an invitation to express himself on the art of humility. The 27-year-old says he’s encountered a fair share of standoffishness among his peers, and he’s not shy to talk about it.

“I was having a conversation with my fitness coach today and one thing I don’t understand about certain tennis players is how they develop a bit of an attitude and a bit of an ego once they make one or two good results,” he said. “Their whole personality kind of changes. I wouldn’t say arrogant. Perhaps some of them.”

Tsitsipas says he wishes more players could just be their authentic selves and leave behind the trappings of the dog-eat-dog Tour. He cited the “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo as the perfect example of a world-class athlete who keeps it real.

“I just wish more tennis players weren’t attached to their results and to what they do that determines who they are.” he said. “I love humble people. That’s one of the reason I actually admire a lot Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s achieved so much through basketball. He’s one of the most humble athletes I’ve ever met and spent time with. I wish more tennis players were like that.”

Arrogant wouldn’t be the right word, Tsitsipas said, carefully. But something exactly like that.

“I’m not saying tennis players are arrogant, I’m just saying there are a few instances of tennis players here and there that you will try and say hi to them, I’m not asking to like have a conversation with that particular player, but it will be nice when you cross someone, at least say hi,” he said.

“I’ve realized certain people are just not in the same frequency, that’s all. I just wish it was more normal on the tour to be like that.”