Stefanos Tsitsipas has returned for his next season, clocking wins at the 2026 United Cup, the mixed-gendered tournament currently taking place across Perth and Sydney from January 2 to 11.
He recently shared his thoughts on his form, noting that he faced no back issues as he started Greece’s title run on a high note, delivering impressive performances in both singles and doubles.
Stefanos Tsitsipas Reflects on His Performances As Team Greece Conquers Team Japan
Tsitsipas, who has played for all three editions of the United Cup for Greece, defeated Shintaro Mochizuki, the 2019 Junior Wimbledon champion, with a concluding score of 6-3, 6-4.
In the doubles with Maria Sakkari, Tsitsipas defeated Yasutaka Uchiyama and Nao Hibino, and in singles, Sakkari overcame Naomi Osaka, sealing Team Greece’s win. The current ATP World No. 36 encountered limitations due to his back injury during his 2025 season, clinching a single title at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
He has recently also revealed that physical issues also forced him to make drastic career changes.
Apart from his back pain, his last season was also marred by coaching changes, and subsequently, he decided to conclude his season after the Vienna Open. During the recent press conference, the Athens native shared positive thoughts regarding his performances against Team Japan, who made their debut at the United Cup, sharing:
“I don’t have any complaints so far. Nothing that bothers me, actually. I’m pleased with the way I actually finished the match because I really started finding a lot of rhythm into my game in later stages of the match. I honestly believe my first game of the match was actually pretty awful from my side. I felt like I was completely useless.” (via ASAP Text)
Tsitsipas continued, highlighting how he was able to turn his form after grasping the concept of the play, finding his rhythm, he mentioned:
“But once I understood how to play, once I got a better visual of the corners that I want to target on the court, playing a little bit with more clarity, not rushing into decisions and not rushing into big shots, I felt like my game started penetrating more, started hurting more. In the longer run, I was trying to do it instantly, and it cost me to get started with the match. But I was not too concerned. I was just trying to rally and find my opportunities and chances there.”
Despite his physical challenges, the Greek star made his debut in the Six Kings Slam, an exhibition tournament held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Jannik Sinner while collecting the gigantic participation fee of $1.5 million.
In the next match, Team Greece, which also features Stefanos Sakellaridis, Despina Papamichail, Petros Tsitsipas, and Sapfo Sakellaridi, will face Team Great Britain on January 5, headlined by Emma Raducanu and Billy Harris.
