Stefanos Tsitsipas seemed on the verge of being a longtime presence in the ATP top five in 2021. He reached No. 3, made the final of the French Open, and appeared destined to win a major or three one day. That hasn't happened.
Instead, the Greek's career has fallen apart. 2025 was especially brutal. He was often injured, and after late April, he didn't make it past the round of 32 at any event. He won just a single title, the same as in 2023 and 2024. He is too talented a player to have such a small level of success.
Off the court, things weren't going much better. His on-again, off-again relationship with WTA star Paula Badosa appeared to fall apart for the final time in July. Couple this with his lack of on-court success, and last year was simply not much fun.
Stefanos Tsitsipas opens up about recent tennis struggles
Tsitsipas recently admitted as much in a talk with Bolavip. The current ATP No. 32 said, "I felt like I was away from the court and the competition, and all of a sudden I was just an observer of tennis and the ATP Tour instead of being a participant...I had a lot of uncertainty for many months. I have had it for a while, even when I won the tournament in Dubai. I was not sure if I could sustain that level or even keep playing. (His back injury) getting worse during the spring, so I stopped enjoying the game."
2026 has not started with much more success. He played well at the United Cup, including a win against Taylor Fritz, but he was bounced out in the first round of his next tournament in Adelaide, and lost in the second round of the Australian Open.
After getting through the round of 32 at the Rotterdam Open, he lost on Thursday in the round of 16 in straight sets to Botic van de Zandschulp. Long-term success seems unlikely for Tistsipas at this point, but near-term success is just as unlikely.
He can be one of the more popular players on the ATP tour. He can be a bit feisty at times, but he mostly comes across to fans as an affable guy who many might enjoy having a beer with. His privacy might have been invaded a bit too much when he was dating Badosa, but he didn't complain too much.
The shame is that at just age 27, Stefanos Tsitsipas appears closer to the end of his career than the beginning. Back injuries do not tend to go away easily for a tennis player, of course. The hope is that he finds his enjoyment in the game again and stays healthy. Maybe that elusive Grand Slam victory is still possible.