"Looking back to that I think this was too big of a statement to be taken seriously"
Tuesday 2 June 2020 11:31, UK
Stefanos Tsitsipas feels he has burdened himself with extra pressure after setting himself the target of claiming a Grand Slam title in 2020.
Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have shared all the Grand Slams between them since Stan Wawrinka triumphed at the 2016 US Open and Tsitsipas has been marked as one of the few players capable of breaking that stranglehold.
The 21-year-old Greek star announced himself by winning last year's season-ending ATP Finals.
Tsitsipas, ranked No 6, announced he was "really close" to being crowned a Grand Slam champion after his triumph at London's O2.
"Looking back to that I think this was too big of a statement to be taken seriously. I shouldn't be looking so far so soon," Tsitsipas was quoted as saying by the official Tennis Majors website.
"For sure, I want it to come, but I should be talking about stuff like this less often and concentrate on the present.
"I guess I just put too much pressure on myself, aiming so high and I just have to take it step by step, not think too much about the future and be irrational," he added.
I guess I just put too much pressure on myself, aiming so high and I just have to take it step by step, not think too much about the future and be irrational.
Tsitsipas has made some giant strides in his young career and reached the Australian Open semi-finals and the fourth round of the French Open in 2019.
The Greek, who has been tipped by Djokovic as a future world No 1, said he would have to learn to wait for his chance.
"I say it every single time like it's the only thing I want to achieve in my life," he said. "For sure it is.
"My theory behind it is that if you think about it too much it might as well never happen, so just relax and enjoy the process."
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