Stefanos Tsitsipas takes aim at Novak Djokovic ahead of Wimbledon
Stefanos Tsitsipas is well aware this year's Wimbledon tournament could be one of his best chances to take home the trophy at the All-England club.
The Greek ace will be looking to improve on a previously poor record at Wimbledon, having made it through to the final of the French Open.
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Though he wasn't able to close out the match despite leading by two sets, Tsitsipas remains optimistic his clay form will carry over to the grass at Wimbledon.
"I see opportunities there for me. I like the grass. I like playing on grass. I didn't have the best results few years ago, before COVID, when I last played on grass," he said.
"I'm going to try and adapt my game to this surface. I think I have the game to play good on grass, too. I just need to be open-minded and adapt my game to this surface."
Tsitsipas' job has been made slightly easier by news Rafael Nadal as withdrawn from the tournament, as well as the upcoming Olympics, in order to protect his body.
Tsitsipas announced his withdrawal from the Wimbledon warm-up event in Halle after the death of his grandmother before the French Open final.
He had learned of the tragedy just minutes before the Roland Garros final against Djokovic, which he lost 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 3-6 2-6 4-6 in a titanic battle.
The 22-year-old revealed in an emotional social media post that he had learned of the death of his paternal grandmother only five minutes before going out onto court for the French Open final.
"Five minutes before entering the court my very beloved grandmother lost her battle for life," Tsitsipas wrote on Instagram.
"A wise woman whose faith in life, and willingness to give and provide can't be compared to any other human being that I have ever met.
"It's important to have more people like her in this world. Because people like her make you come alive. They make you dream."
Rafael Nadal withdraws from Wimbledon, Tokyo Olympics
Nadal has pulled out of Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo, saying he took the decision after consultations with his team.
The 35-year-old Spaniard said the two-week gap between the French Open and Wimbledon - which starts on June 28 - was not enough time for him to recuperate after a demanding claycourt season where he played in five tournaments.
"I have decided not to participate at this year's Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo," Nadal posted on Twitter.
"It's never an easy decision to take but after listening to my body and discussing it with my team I understand that it is the right decision."
Nadal played at the Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona, Madrid Masters and Rome Masters before the French Open, where he made a run to the semi-final and was knocked out by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
"The fact that there has only been two weeks between RG (Roland Garros) and Wimbledon, didn't make it easier on my body to recuperate after the always demanding clay court season," he said.
"They have been two months of great effort and the decision I take is focused looking at the mid and long-term."
Nadal won the last of his two titles at the All England Club in 2010.
He has won two gold medals at the Olympics - a singles title in 2008 in Beijing and a doubles gold at Rio in 2016.
With AAP
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