Tsitsipas Sets Sights on World No. 1 Ranking

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No. 6 seed in Rome and No. 8 on tour, has set his sights on becoming the world's top-ranked tennis player. After a strong start to the season, including victories in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, Tsitsipas believes he has the potential to dethrone the current No. 1, Novak Djokovic.

Tsitsipas's confidence stems from his recent performances, particularly his dominant display against Alex de Minaur in Rome. He believes that his heavy and deep ball control has given him an edge over his opponents.

"I really felt that my opponent felt the heaviness and the depth of my ball," Tsitsipas said. "It gave me courage, it gave me great belief in myself that I can continue pushing in that sense."

Tsitsipas's resurgence comes after a difficult period in 2023, when a back injury forced him to drop out of the Top 10. However, he has since recovered and is now back in contention for the top spot.

"I was outside the Top 10 for a while," he said. "It hurt me a little bit. So being back, it's a great feeling."

Tsitsipas has also made some adjustments to his game, including abandoning his recent experiment with a modified service stance. He believes that his old "platform" stance gives him more confidence and allows him to open up the court more easily.

"Once you start thinking a lot, it's an issue because you can't concentrate on what's happening in front of you," he said. "Your mind travels in different directions and places. . . I did something strange, which I've never done before in a match. I was trying different things during the match, which is definitely something I don't recommend to anyone doing."

With the upcoming French Open just around the corner, Tsitsipas is aware that he has a chance to make history. Rafael Nadal, the 14-time Roland Garros champion, is struggling with injuries, while Djokovic has been in poor form this year.

"I never saw a reason not to follow my dreams to that depth," Tsitsipas said. "It would be a blessing if I was able to conquer and make that happen. It's been my dream since the first day of pursuing professional tennis."

Tags: #StefanosTsitsipas, #Tennis, #ATP, #WorldNo1, #MonteCarlo