Stefanos Tsitsipas admits missing ATP Finals was 'humbling experience' as he reflects on 'difficult moments' in 2024
Published 02/12/2024 at 18:04 GMT
Stefanos Tsitsipas fell out of the top 10 for the first time in five years in 2024, and ended the season with just one trophy and a 45-22 win-loss record. He has reflected on how it felt not qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals and why there was a time when "tennis wasn’t important to me anymore". The highlight of Tsitsipas’ season was winning the Monte Carlo Masters for the third time.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas says it was "humbling" to miss out on the ATP Finals for the first time since 2018 as he reflected on the "difficult moments" he encountered this season.
Tsitsipas started the season ranked at No. 6 in the world but fell out of the top 10 for the first time in five years.
He ended 2024 with a 45-22 win-loss record and just one title, in Monte Carlo.
He also finished at No. 11 in the rankings, missing out on a spot at the season-ending ATP Finals after qualifying for the last five years in a row.
"Not making it into the ATP Finals this year was a humbling experience, teaching me the value of resilience and perspective," wrote Tsitsipas on Instagram.
"I strive for it, but I’ve learned that perfection doesn’t exist within me, and that’s okay. Even if you wish for it, it doesn’t come just by the thought of it. The real difference lies in execution and consistent effort."
The highlight of Tsitsipas’ season was winning the Monte Carlo Masters for the third time, securing his first Masters title in two years.
He made the quarter-finals at the French Open before splitting with father, Apostolos, as his coach and starting to work with Greece's Davis Cup captain Dimitris Chatzinikolaou.
"Change isn’t necessarily a bad thing," Tsitsipas added. "It’s a process that requires patience and commitment.
"Even if results don’t show right away. I trust that these changes will lead me to where I want to go."
Tsitsipas is set to start his 2025 season by representing Greece at the United Cup. He will be looking to rediscover his top form after admitting there were times this year when "tennis wasn’t important any more."
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"If I have to say something about this year, it’s that I’m very proud of what I’m doing now, because my mind has had some very difficult moments this year and I wasn’t sure if I could continue playing tennis," he said on Instagram.
"Tennis wasn’t important to me any more, going to tournaments wasn’t important to me any more. It’s been complicated because I never imagined I’d get to this point, but I’m proud of myself for the way I’ve handled the situations – because it hasn’t been easy.
"The most surprising thing was going to Monte Carlo and winning the title there again because, inside, I wasn’t 100% sure if I could do it because of everything that was happening."
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