ATP Masters Madrid: Stefanos Tsitsipas and the half of the field away from boxing
Stefanos Tsitsipas played his way into the round of 16 of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid. The question is: Because of or despite the constant sonication from his box?
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
May 02, 2023, 11:02 am
It now takes resourceful statisticians to use numbers to suggest that Stefanos Tsitsipas scores better on the side of a tennis court that is out of earshot of his well-known vocal family support. The half of the square away from the box.
People who have been professionally supporting the Tsitsipas family for a very long time, so who should know, say: Apostolos Tsitsipas is a very competent tennis coach. And the successes prove Stefanos' father right: The junior won two ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, twice reached the final of a Grand Slam tournament, the ATP alone has the prize money for the Greek hero at more than 25 million US dollars out.
And yet one hasn't been able to shake the feeling for a long time that the combination of Stefanos/Apostolos is not only fruitful. Especially when Stefanos denies his matches. And, beware, especially when mother Yulia Stepanova is also at the start. As was very impressively observed in Stefanos' first two appearances in Madrid.
Unique situation with the Tsitsipas family
Apostolos talked into Stefanos - and at the same time got a comment from behind, which of course he couldn't just let stand. This may be entertaining for TV viewers who know Greek. Sometimes it doesn't help much for Stefanos Tsitsipas' game. In any case, against Sebastian Baez, Stefanos gave his box a break.
Which also raises the question: Who did the regulation that coaching is allowed on the ATP tour bring more joy? Apostolos, who is finally allowed to give instructions unpunished - or is it Stefanos, who now also allows himself contradiction?
interwettenfo
In any case, the situation in the Tsitsipas clan is unique in top tennis. Yes, also Alexander Zverev Sr. now and then sits in the box of Germany's number one and gives a technical comment here and there. Mother Rune plays the part of the parents Djokovic, Nadal or Alcaraz (like now in Madrid): There are one or more coaches for sporting matters, the rest of the clan is called upon to provide moral support.
On the other hand, Stefanos Tsitsipas is again in the round of 16 of a 1000, in which he meets Bernabe Zapata Miralles in the Caja Magica today. Whether because of or in spite of the constant sound from his box, that's difficult to assess.
Here is the individual tableau in Madrid
madrid map