Ahead of the Australian Open final, find out how the Greek tennis star is preparing mentally for his biggest matches. On Sunday night in Melbourne, Stefanos Tsitsipas aims to make history by becoming the first Greek player to win a Grand Slam title. The 24-year-old will also be the world number one if he beats Novak Djokovic and triumphs at the Australian Open.
Tsitsipas is no stranger to playing in a major final. He has won nine titles in his career and was on the verge of winning his first Grand Slam tournament in 2021 when he lost to Djokovic in a five-set thriller in the final of the French Open. But how does the Greek tennis ace mentally prepare for such a big event and reach a state of supreme concentration? Here's everything you need to know about it:
In the new podcast series "Mind Set Win," Tsitsipas explained that he played his best tennis - including his win at the 2019 ATP World Tour Finals - when he could enter a flow state. He says:
"Everything made sense. You're not playing with your skill anymore, you're playing with your soul."
The current world number four also revealed how his daily psychological approach has helped him improve his mental strength and achieve impressive results on the court. Tsitsipas said:
"I'm not going to let any expectations get to me and I just want to be free. Figuratively, I'm going to let go of everything else."
The current world number four also recalled how he prepares for his biggest matches. "I meditate a lot and pay a lot of attention to my breathing." Getting into that flow state is crucial for Tsitsipas, and he has developed numerous methods to achieve it. He makes sure to eat well and stay hydrated, and even a positive conversation off the court can become a source of strength when he is on the court. He concluded, "I always look at my glass as half full, not half empty."
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