Greek · Athens, Greece · Born 12 August 1998Greek player known for his one-handed backhand who reached the 2021 French Open final and became the first Greek player ranked in the world's top 10.
Stefanos Tsitsipas was born on 12 August 1998 in Athens, Greece, the eldest of four children of Apostolos Tsitsipas, a Greek tennis coach, and Julia Apostoli (née Salnikova), a former Soviet professional player ranked as high as world No. 194 who took Greek citizenship after marrying Apostolos in 1991. His maternal grandfather, Sergei Salnikov, won Olympic gold in football with the Soviet Union at the 1956 Melbourne Games. Tsitsipas began playing tennis at three, training under his father in Athens before also working with the Mouratoglou Academy in France, and turned professional in 2016. In 2017, at 19, he became the first Greek player to break into the ATP top 100, reaching the top 10 by 2019 to become the most successful male player in his country's history. Tsitsipas reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 3 on 9 August 2021, and reached two Grand Slam finals: the 2021 French Open, where he led by two sets against Novak Djokovic before losing in five, and the 2023 Australian Open, also lost to Djokovic. He won the 2019 ATP Finals as a 21-year-old, defeating Dominic Thiem in the final. Tsitsipas has often played doubles alongside his younger brother Petros, and speaks Greek, Russian, and English fluently. He nearly drowned in a swimming incident in 2015, an experience he has said changed his outlook on life, and continues to compete on the ATP Tour as one of the most recognisable Greek athletes in any sport.
One-handed backhand, first Greek player in the top 10
He led Novak Djokovic by two sets to love in the 2021 Roland Garros final before Djokovic came back to win — one of the great Grand Slam final comebacks.
Did You Know?How They Played
Tsitsipas plays an aggressive baseline game with powerful groundstrokes from both wings, featuring a classic one-handed backhand that he uses to generate significant topspin and create sharp angles. His serve is a major weapon, often exceeding 130 mph, and he's known for his ability to dictate play with his forehand and move forward to finish points at the net when opportunities arise.
Lasting Impact
Tsitsipas helped usher in tennis's next generation by becoming the first player born in the 1990s to defeat the 'Big Four' members and win a Masters 1000 title.
Career Honours
- French Open singles finalist (2021)
- ATP Finals champion (2019)
Greek Athletes