Stefanos Tsitsipas sets his sights on major goals for 2026 despite Adelaide upset

After the match, Tsitsipas was asked: “It’s really fine margins when you’re talking two tiebreaks. But after what you did in the United Cup, are you happy, not happy about tonight, but are you happy with the way you’re progressing in this summer?”

Tsitsipas responded: “I am playing good tennis,” he said. “I won’t let a result like this define the beginning of my year. I’m just focused on big goals, and I want to accomplish great things this year.

“It all depends on me, how much I’m going to work on the court and the consistency that I’m going to show every single day.”

The reporter continued: “Just lastly, in terms of those goals for the year, is that with the slams, you want to just get back to where you were sort of a couple of years ago at contending at all the slams?”

Tsitsipas replied: “That’s right. That’s my goal,” he said.

“Playing good in slams, having deep runs, feeling my game and showing that I still got it. This is exactly it.”

Tsitsipas will hope to put in a strong campaign at the first Grand Slam event of the year in Melbourne. Since reaching the final in 2023, Tsitsipas has failed to advance past the fourth round.

The Greek player was knocked out by American Alex Michelsen last year during his first-round match.

Looking back at Stefanos Tsitsipas’ first appearance at the Australian Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas, then just 19, took part in Australian Open qualifying for the first time in 2017. He started well with a 6-2, 6-1 win over wildcard Gavin van Peperzeel but then fell to Bjorn Fratangelo in three sets.

A year later, Tsitsipas made his main draw debut at the Australian Open but was knocked out by Denis Shapovalov in straight sets.

His breakout moment came in 2018. Seeded 14th, he reached the semi-finals after wins over Matteo Berrettini, Viktor Troicki, Nikoloz Basilashvili, Roger Federer and Roberto Bautista Agut.

In the semis, Tsitsipas ran into Rafael Nadal and lost 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. Novak Djokovic went on to beat Nadal in the final.