"A sign that you reached the maximum in your career": Tsitsipas would rather become World No.1 during his career than win a Grand Slam
ATP
Stefanos
Tsitsipas stated that he would rather be world No. 1 than win a Grand Slam.
The Greek
player is currently competing in the ATP 250 Los Cabos Open, where he advanced
from his debut match against John Isner and will now face Nicolas Jarry in the
quarterfinals. Chilean athlete had defeated Tsitsipas in the Halle Open two
weeks before participating in Wimbledon.
In an
interview with 'El Universal Deportes,' Tsitsipas expressed his
preference for holding the world No. 1 ranking over winning a Grand Slam.
Despite
being one of the active players who have reached Grand Slam finals without a
victory, Tsitsipas has shown consistent performance in major tournaments. He
has suffered two final defeats, one at the 2021 French Open and the other at
the 2023 Australian Open.
Other
players who have reached Grand Slam finals without winning include Jo-Wilfred
Tsonga (1), Alexander Zverev (1), Nick Kyrgios (1), Matteo Berretini (1), Milos
Raonic (1), Kei Nishikori (1), Kevin Anderson (2), and Casper Ruud (3).
“I would
trade a Grand Slam title to be #1. It's something special & a sign that you
reached the maximum in your career & I love when you're able to maximize
everything. That way, 1 day I can tell my grandchildren I was #1,” Tsitsipas said.
Read also
As of now,
the world No. 5 is quite far from the top spot with 4850 points, still trailing
behind Carlos Alcaraz (9225) and Novak Djokovic (8795).
Throughout
the Open Era, 56 players have won a Grand Slam title, while only 28 have
reached the world No. 1 ranking. Interestingly, only one player managed to
reach the top spot without ever winning a Grand Slam in his career.
This
exceptional achievement belongs to Chilean tennis player Marcelo Ríos, who
spent a total of 6 weeks at the pinnacle of the rankings in 1998.
Despite not winning
any Grand Slam, Ríos captured seven titles, including three Master Series
titles (equivalent to today's Masters 1000 events). He also reached the final
of the Australian Open, where he suffered a defeat against Petr Korda.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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