Stefanos Tsitsipas in ‘great joy’, despite the exit of the Greece United Cup | ATP Tour

Match the Reaction

Painless and perfect in Perth: Tsitsipas ‘very happy’, despite Greece’s exit

The former World No. 3 finished 3-0 in singles at the United Cup, including a win against Fritz

January 07, 2026

The United Cup has ended this year for Team Greece, but Stefanos Tsitsipas hopes the 2026 edition of the mixed teams represents the start of something new in his career.

The 27-year-old ATP Tour star finished with a 3-0 singles record in his home country at the RAC Arena in Perth, where he defeated Team USA’s Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday for his first Top 10 win in more than 18 months. Despite the Americans going on to win the tournament with a doubles victory at the RAC Arena, Tsitsipas was happy to reflect on the positives after sinking Fritz to 4-2 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

“I’m happy with the win. It wasn’t easy going into the match. I’ve been away for a long time and matches like this challenge you to the fullest,” Tsitsipas, who hadn’t played a competitive match since September due to a back injury before arriving in Perth, told ATPTour.com. “I feel like you are being tested in a brutal and tough way compared to the players who have not changed in the last few months. Taylor is one of them. I knew when I entered the pitch that my level of focus had to be very high.

“I couldn’t allow myself to break at any point during the match, and I delivered that very well. My concentration levels were there. I was trying to read the game, trying to read the court and see what patterns might start to form and like them a little bit. I tried to stay away from those and play my game. Very aggressive tennis. I dominated from the start at times. I felt like I was very happy with my exchanges​​​​ to my confidence.”

Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari were unable to beat Coco Gauff and Christian Harrison in the mixed doubles as Greece missed out on a place in the semi-finals in Sydney. However, 12-time ATP Tour champion Tsitsipas feels that he and his compatriot will take more from the game.

“I talked to Maria. I’m proud of her, she did very well. I’m glad I was able to share the court with her,” said No. 34 in the PIF ATP Rankings. “We make a great duo, me and him. I feel like every doubles match we get to play, we come to new realizations about our games. We get along really well, and I feel like every match we’ve played, we’ve always gotten feedback and we’ve always understood that our games can be even better together.

“Obviously it hurts to lose today and not get that win going to Sydney, but I see that as a big opportunity to grow from it, use it in a positive way, and hopefully come back next year hungry.”

Tsitsipas, who has revealed he hopes to play the Adelaide International before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open, was happy with the way his body held up in three singles matches and two mixed doubles rubbers in Perth.

“So far everything is going well,” said the 2023 Australian Open finalist, when asked how he was feeling physically. “It’s a good answer, knowing that, knowing that I don’t feel aches or pains. I’m actually very happy that I enjoy tennis every day, without any discomfort or pain that could cause me stress in everyday life … I’m very happy to play the game I love. Life is the most important thing in the world. I’m really happy to play all the pain I get.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had that, so to be able to play like that gives me joy and satisfaction, and it makes me want to go back to train. Especially when you’re dealing with a lot of pain and especially in the lower back, you get discouraged very quickly if you see yourself a few times in that situation. Training is no longer fun. To be able to do that now the biggest is like doing.”