By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday, March 9, 2025
Indian Wells, California – Stefanos Tsitsipas was facing challenges on the court, struggling to translate his practice successes into match victories. Instead of waiting for change, he decided to take action.
Following his triumphant title win in Dubai last month, his first hardcourt victory since 2023, Tsitsipas shared an impactful quote on social media: “They said my game was sinking, so I got myself a boat.”
More: Insights from Tsitsipas on His New Racquet After Dubai Success
When prompted to elaborate on his social media statement during a press conference at the BNP Paribas Open, he opened up about his recent struggles.
“The last few months haven’t been great for me,” Tsitsipas admitted after his straight-sets victory over Matteo Berrettini. “I haven’t achieved any significant results to indicate that I was making progress with my game, so that caption was a reflection of my recent experiences.”
Tsitsipas is known for his witty remarks on his X account, so while some of his comments might be light-hearted, this one resonates with his current state. He is actively working to regain his footing after a notable drop from the Top 10.
“I appreciate a little humor like that; it never hurts,” he added with a smile.
Recently, Tsitsipas has transitioned to a new racquet, a blacked-out frame that he has yet to disclose fully. He discussed the rationale behind this change without naming it directly during his press conference.
“I was searching for ways to elevate my game,” he explained. “Some of my recent opponents have been outpacing me and performing at a higher level, especially when it comes to aggressive play. Historically, I’ve prided myself on being able to deliver powerful shots, but I needed to enhance that aspect.”
Reports suggest that his new racquet features a 16” x 20” string pattern, augmenting his spin and power abilities. Some sources indicate that his groundstrokes could be averaging nearly 5 MPH faster since making the transition.
On Sunday, Tsitsipas demonstrated an assertive performance from the start, yielding just eight points on serve and effectively winning points with his serve-plus-one strategy. Clearly, his confidence has surged compared to a month ago, following his new racquet’s introduction.
“Previously, I felt like I couldn’t translate my practice success to match play,” Tsitsipas commented. “I was winning practice sets against strong competitors, but I struggled to achieve that in tournament matches, and it has taken some time to adapt.”
“With recent adjustments to my game, I feel they have significantly boosted my confidence whenever I step onto the court.”
