"Finish the year in top 3" - Tsitsipas sets out goals ahead of Madrid Open

The Greek player is currently leading the ATP Race to Turin and he is looking to add more points to his tally with a strong showing at the Madrid Open.

It has been a superb clay swing for Stefanos Tsitsipas so far with the Greek winning his sole ATP 1000 Masters event in Monte-Carlo earlier in the month. Proof that it was not a fluke win came a week later with another trip to the final in Barcelona. Despite playing well Nadal proved too strong for the Greek. Now heading into Madrid he has high expectations:

"I'm really pumped for this week. My expectation, I won’t lie to you, is to come as close to my two-year result, which was in the final. I feel like I’m getting close. I feel like I can create opportunities and maybe get to No. 4. It’s something that has been in my mind."

He is currently sitting at no.5 which is his career high ranking. But he has set his sights to higher grounds saying:

“I’ve been working hard, I’ve been putting a lot of work in. I feel like it’s my opportunity to do something different. All these tournaments are important. They carry a lot of points. These tournaments are kind of opportunities for me to pursue something better."

He continued explaining his goal for the rest of the season:

"Right now I’m in the lead of the Race to Turin, which is very important for me. I want to conserve that and finish the year perhaps in the top three. That would be a good, fair goal for me for this year”.

He is coming to Madrid playing probably his best tennis ever and it's something that gives him added confidence:

"Of course, it adds a lot to my confidence and feeling better on court than ever before.”

As a seeded player he has a 1st round BYE and will play either Basilasvhili or Paire in the 2nd round.