Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Australian coach, Mark Philippoussis, has told The Sydney Morning Herald he believes the Greek tennis player will have “an advantage” when he plays his Australian Open quarter final tonight against Jiri Lehecka.
“He’s worked very hard in the off-season. He’s put in the work and he’s hitting the ball well, but, look, if guys are in the quarter-finals, everyone’s playing great tennis,” Philippoussis said in the interview.
“Having the experience of being in the semis the last few years here is an advantage, and can help with those big moments – especially spending those times on Rod Laver Arena.”
Philippoussis joined Tsitsipas’ coaching team, alongside his dad Apostolos, in 2022 after the tennis star lost to Nick Kyrgios in the fourth round of Wimbledon.
He told the SMH he had hoped to help Tsitsipas narrow his focus, and minimise outside distractions from technology input, statistics and “everything going on during matches.”
“I think it’s very easy to get lost in those things,” Philippoussis said.
“They are important, and you could use them in a beneficial way. But, I also believe players can get lost and forget about playing their own game.
“It’s bringing calmness because he’s such an incredible athlete physically, and he is a natural competitor who’s got a big game but a big all-round game.”
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
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