A Good Decision by Stefanos Tsitsipas

[stotty]

A good move in my view. He might actually progress from hereon if he sticks with his decision.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/articles/cn49v1kp7l7o

[jimlosaltos]

A good move in my view. He might actually progress from hereon if he sticks with his decision.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/a...s/cn49v1kp7l7o

Stef does seem to have plateaued, even slid backwards. Let's see who he gets.
Will he stick in his comfort zone, maybe go back to Philldippousis, or find someone that can challenge him.

Apparent issue in the short term was changing racket strings, and ignoring his concerns. Tip of an iceberg.

[stroke]

He has to get that backhand sorted out. His game is so similar to Musetti, but Musetti is not running around like a 90's or early 2000's Courier/Moya to hit forehands. That time has passed.

[jimlosaltos]

He has to get that backhand sorted out. His game is so similar to Musetti, but Musetti is not running around like a 90's or early 2000's Courier/Moya to hit forehands. That time has passed.

Yup. He's stuck in a rut.

Mark Petchy was right a year ago when he said that Tsitsipas's backhand had regressed. Biggest hole IMHO is his backhand return. But also, Stef seems to have stopped changing directions with the backhand, perhaps lost confidence? That used to be a weapon going DTL, now he just rallies crosscourt. And his slice backhand isn't what one expects from a one-hander, just floats, no stick no low skidding version.

I can't see Stef emulating Musetti's tactics of staying back and running. Stef is a very good offensive player. Brad Gilbert has said he has the best inside-in forehand on the ATP. He's been in top 10 serving for quite a while. Those are the two weapons he wants to deploy as much as possible.

Is "Serve + 1" dead? I can't buy that. Sinner certainly plays that a lot. Ditto Ruud. And Stef volleys better than either of them to follow it up.

Personally, I'd like to see Stef be more aggressive on his second serve.

[stotty]

Yup. He's stuck in a rut.

Mark Petchy was right a year ago when he said that Tsitsipas's backhand had regressed. Biggest hole IMHO is his backhand return. But also, Stef seems to have stopped changing directions with the backhand, perhaps lost confidence? That used to be a weapon going DTL, now he just rallies crosscourt. And his slice backhand isn't what one expects from a one-hander, just floats, no stick no low skidding version.

I can't see Stef emulating Musetti's tactics of staying back and running. Stef is a very good offensive player. Brad Gilbert has said he has the best inside-in forehand on the ATP. He's been in top 10 serving for quite a while. Those are the two weapons he wants to deploy as much as possible.

Is "Serve + 1" dead? I can't buy that. Sinner certainly plays that a lot. Ditto Ruud. And Stef volleys better than either of them to follow it up.

Personally, I'd like to see Stef be more aggressive on his second serve.

I think the days of having a great serve and great forehand being enough to get a player a long way if not all the way are over. Roger and Rafa beefed up their backhands in mid career and did so for a reason. Stef's backhand is poor by world standards. Carlos virtually pokes fun at it. Players have to be very good off both wings these days. The problem for Stef is that standards have nudged up a bit.

[stroke]

Jim and Stotty, both good points. Yes Stefs
game is not as you say a Musetti/Gasquet running everything down and win by attrition, and Stefs forehand is certainly top 5 at the very least in ATP. But his backhand, well, it is better than Sock's was, but not even as good as a Berrentini to me. His game I guess most resembles Matteo.

[jimlosaltos]

I think the days of having a great serve and great forehand being enough to get a player a long way if not all the way are over. Roger and Rafa beefed up their backhands in mid career and did so for a reason. Stef's backhand is poor by world standards. Carlos virtually pokes fun at it. Players have to be very good off both wings these days. The problem for Stef is that standards have nudged up a bit.

Absolutely agree there. Stef's backhand has actually regressed IMHO. Backhand return has always been his Achilles heel and I think it's gotten worse.

Also, he tried to add slice and that backfired. 1) His slice isn't great 2) Using that makes him more passive. Used to be able to hit DTL winners, now he doesn't even try.