Tsitsipas’ Fantastic and Frustrating 2022 Season Continues in Stockholm
Sweden is steeped in tennis history that you can see and feel at the Royal Tennis Club of Stockholm, where the Stockholm Open is once again taking place.
This year’s event boasts an impressive line up with 6 Top 25 players in attendance, including World #5 Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Stefanos Tsitsipas Plays Stockholm 2022
Stefanos Tsitsipas won the Stockholm Open in 2018, and many other titles since. This year has been an up and down one for the Greek sensation, though. He’s made 6 finals, winning both Monte Carlo and Mallorca, but failed to come close to winning a Major as many expected him to do this season.
No doubt, the rapid rise of the younger Carlos Alcaraz to World #1 and US Open champ has shaken up the assumed line of succession from the Big 3’s dominance. Stefanos, still clearly one of the elite current and future talents on the ATP now struggles with the pressure of being the incumbent rather than the newcomer.
Tsitsipas’ mentality has been tested this season, clearly being affected by Nick Kyrgios’ antics at Wimbledon for example. Many people also sense the emotional scar of having been 2 sets to love up on Djokovic in the French Open final in 2021, only to lose in 5.
These types of battle scars are worn by anyone who has fought their way to the top of the game, and Tsitsipas is no different. If he wants to be the multiple Major champion that he possesses the talent and hard work to be, Stefanos will have to find ways to use those losses as lessons that make him even better.
All signs are pointing to that being the case for him. We wish him the best, and expect a big 2023 from the Greek.
Shapovalov Playing In 2nd Home
Denis Shapovalov was Runner-Up in the 2021 Stockholm Open to Tommy Paul, but he still takes to Sweden fondly. He spends time here (as seen on his Instagram) as he’s dating Swedish tennis player Mirjam Bjørklund.
Denis also won the tournament in 2019, his only ATP title to date. The indoor hard courts are a favourite surface for the bombastic Canadian, and he’ll hope to get a second title this week, in a strong field.
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