“The financial gap is big”: Stefanos Tsitsipas explains why South America remains off his schedule

Stefanos Tsitsipas has offered a candid explanation for his continued absence from the South American clay swing, pointing to financial realities that shape the modern ATP calendar. In an interview with CLAY, the former world No. 3 detailed how appearance fees and scheduling incentives influence his decisions.

Tsitsipas, now ranked outside the top five after fluctuating results over the past two seasons, has traditionally opted for the Middle East and European indoor swings following the Australian Open.

While events in Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro and Santiago stand out for the atmosphere that is generated and the fervour of their fans, they are also marked by a lack of renowned figures – especially in recent years. The 27-year-old acknowledged the emotional pull of South American crowds, describing their “passion” as unique on the tour.

However, he was direct about the economic gap compared to other regions, particularly the Gulf events, which have aggressively invested in top-tier talent in recent years. It recently became known how the Qatar Open guaranteed $1.2 million to Sinner and Alcaraz just for attending the ATP 500-category tournament – in the same week in which the Rio Open was being played. Doha had up to 12 top-25 players in its entry list, compared to only two in Brazil.

Tsitsipas made clear that financial backing remains a decisive factor when structuring his schedule. “I’ve never received good offers to go there; when the financial gap is big, you really have no option but to stick with what supports your career,” the Greek told CLAY in an interview conducted in Australia.

He expanded on the comparison between regions, pointing specifically to the Middle East and Europe as more competitive markets for elite players in terms of appearance fees. “South America has never offered me a deal good enough to seriously consider it,” added the two-time Grand Slam runner-up. “The Middle East has always been much better in terms of appearance fees. The European swing has also provided strong financial incentives. That makes a difference.”

The remarks underline the structural realities of the ATP Tour. February’s calendar places South American clay events immediately after Melbourne, forcing players to choose between hard courts in Dubai or Doha and a quick surface transition to clay. For a player still recalibrating his form, such decisions carry added weight.

Despite the financial gap, Tsitsipas insisted that the door is not closed. He spoke openly about his desire to experience the atmosphere in South America and acknowledged his fan base there. “There’s that passion in South America that I sometimes set aside, but when the financial gap is large, you really have no choice but to go with what backs your career.

“I would love to play there. It’s always been my dream to visit South America and I’ve heard wonderful things about it,” the world No. 30 added. “I also have many fans there, and I can see it through the activity on my social media and the constant interaction with followers from that part of the world.”

At the same time, Tsitsipas acknowledged that his deeper concern lies in results at the sport’s biggest events. Once a finalist at Roland Garros and a regular presence in the latter stages of majors, he has struggled to string together consecutive wins in recent Grand Slam appearances. “I’m very disappointed. I had some goals that I couldn’t achieve. It’s been a while since I’ve won several matches in a row at a Grand Slam, and it’s frustrating to find myself in this position again, unable to reach the second week of a major.”

The Greek, post-Australian Open, holds a 3–3 record, highlighted by his run in Doha, where he reached the quarter-finals and earned a victory over Daniil Medvedev – in terms of opponent ranking, his best win on Tour since Monte-Carlo 2024 – where he collected three consecutive top-10 victories, including a triumph over Sinner.

This week in Dubai he suffered an early elimination, falling to Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-4, 7-5. He will lose several positions in the rankings and will drop outside the top 40 for the first time since 2018. His next challenge will be at Indian Wells – where he reached the fourth round back in 2025.