Stefanos Tsitspias is a two-time winner of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, one of the most prestigious tournaments in tennis. He won the title in 2021 and in 2022. Rolex has provided the following question and answer session with Tsitsipas that discusses the watch brand and various topics in tennis, such as Laver Cup, Netflix and more here:
Q: Can you tell us about your relationship with Rolex? When and how it came about, and what it means to you?
Stéfanos Tsitsipás (ST): What Rolex means to me is very different to other people. For me, I never really owned a watch until recently. I was patiently waiting for the day that I could own a beautiful, timeless Rolex. I always had the idea that if I was to get a watch, it would be one of impeccable quality. I stuck by this and years later, I was able to get my first Rolex Daytona watch, which is still to this day one of my favourite watches to wear. I am so glad that I have made it to a point where I could fulfil this dream of mine.
Q: What are your overall thoughts about Rolex’s longstanding support of tennis?
ST: It is a beautiful thing to have Rolex in tennis. Its longstanding support of the sport has been so important. Tennis is a sport that suits Rolex very well. I feel very lucky that they are so involved in the sport that I chose to play as a child. In 1978, Rolex decided to get into tennis, and it was that era where legends and icons of our sport were born and started to dominate but also providing the next generation with idols and inspiration. It’s amazing that Rolex has sponsored all four Grand Slams for so long, along with so many other important events. Hats off to the whole Rolex family for being so passionate about the sport.
Q: For Rolex, the perpetual pursuit of excellence and the promotion of it is key. How relevant is that to your approach to the sport?
ST: Excellence comes from hard work, building on successes and learning from failure. The perpetual quest for excellence is something that I constantly seek. For me, winning titles and silverware contributes to my motivation. It is the reason why I wake up early in the mornings for practice and work hard in my everyday life. I like to enjoy my victories and I think it’s important to celebrate even the smallest ones as they help me embrace all of my successes and hard work.
Q: Which Rolex watches do you have, and do you have any stories about them?
ST: I am fortunate enough to own the Rolex Daytona, Submariner and Cellini. They all have different stories and are special in their own way. 4/7
The Rolex Daytona represents my personality and values me really well. It’s a watch that I can wear both on and off the court. This watch is particularly memorable as it was the first watch that I received from Rolex when I became a Testimonee. It is the watch that is most memorable and the earliest memory that I have of owning the watch that I always dreamt of when growing up.
The Rolex Submariner is a watch that represents my heritage very well as I am someone who grew up by the sea and beautiful beaches. I have always loved exploring and swimming in the ocean so the Submariner is perfect for that. I discovered the Rolex Cellini later but it is just as special and symbolic due to the Greek link. ‘Cellini’ in Greek means moon, and the watch itself has a moon on it. The watch is magnificent; a beautiful timepiece that I fell in love with instantly. As soon as I saw it, I knew that it was the watch that I needed to have. I have been wearing it off the court almost every single day. I find that it also has qualities that are very unique in comparison to other watches and I really like the vintage look that you don’t get every day.
Q: With four of your ATP Titles won on clay, would you consider it your favourite playing surface?
ST: Clay is definitely the surface that I am most dominant on and the one that I can adjust to the best. It is the surface that I grew up playing on. I have spent countless hours practicing and striving for excellence on it. Sliding and running around the court feels very natural to me. Playing with the angles that clay courts have to offer comes very naturally to me as I have spent many hours doing drills focused on that. It is a surface that gives me a lot of joy to play and work hard on.
Q: You are always striving for continuous improvement, what is your next project or focus area on your game as you look to set the highest standards of performance in tennis?
ST: I think there is room for improvement in my mental capacity. My slice has improved tremendously over the past couple of years and I have become very confident in using it as a weapon. That transition has been difficult but I have embraced the challenge and been able to get to the point where it has become a key part of my artillery and skill set. I have also been putting a lot of work into my movement in recent times – in particular, my movement towards and game at the net. Increasingly, I have been approaching the net more but I feel like there are certain opportunities that I can be more successful and efficient by bringing in that old style of tennis and closing in at the net. Although there have been changes in the last couple of years in terms of court speeds, I still feel that my movement is a strength and makes me the player that I am. With regards to weaknesses, we all have weaknesses. I have been very determined to do well across all surfaces and I think that grass courts, in particular, can highlight those weaknesses and areas for improvement. There is nowhere to hide on grass. Every aspect of your game is tested. I’m really pleased how I have been consistently improving across all surfaces and remain determined to show what I am truly capable of.
Q: You made history last year becoming the first Greek player to reach a Grand Slam singles final. Are you driven by records and what does this achievement mean to you?
ST: It is the quality in the volume, that’s what it is.
Q: How would you describe the Laver Cup experience and the team dynamic?
ST: I think that the Laver Cup is so exciting because it is something that we have never seen before in tennis. It is something fresh and very new to the sport. This kind of competition naturally promotes collaboration between the players and ultimately makes us better. It is one of my favourite tournaments to play. I really feel the togetherness and honour to represent the European continent which is something you don’t get to do every day. You feel a large amount of responsibility stepping out on the court and the adrenaline and energy that you feel throughout your body is something that no other competition – except maybe a Grand Slam – can replicate.
Q: You’ve showcased your skills and passion for filmmaking. Is this something you see yourself pursuing once your playing career is over?
ST: Filmmaking is something that I will take even more seriously once my playing career is over. I have always shown a lot of interest in it. I have always been willing to learn and get better at it. I have been lucky enough to receive a lot of advice from experts in the field and this has only encouraged me to pursue it and increase my skills and knowledge.
Filmmaking represents me very well. It represents my ideas about life and allows me to capture the highlights that life has to offer. I feel like an author when I have the camera in my hand. It is a piece of art that I can entirely express myself through in any shape or form whenever I want.
It gives me so many creative ideas unlike anything else in the world – except maybe tennis! There is so much freedom that comes with it and it is such a great feeling when I produce, direct, edit and express my ideas.
Q: As one of the players participating in the Netflix documentary filming – do you prefer to be in front or behind the camera?
ST: I have mixed emotions regarding this. I always wanted to have something like this in tennis and would have probably liked to have been the director of it! However, it’s exciting to be an ‘actor’ in one of the most exciting things happening this year in tennis in terms of the exposure and hopefully bringing new fans and people to the sport. I feel privileged that I am able to showcase my life and tell my story on such a platform. It has been a very intense year with lots of tennis. There have been plenty of ups and downs, good and bad moments so far. I really hope that the end product is a great story, exciting and show some fascinating insights into our sport. The beauty and power of filmmaking is that it provides opportunities to tell stories that have not been told before. This is one of the things that I love about filmmaking.
Q: How do you like to relax and spend time away from the tennis court?
ST: I have been enjoying the sea a lot lately. I have been taking a sailing boat out on the ocean and going around the Greek islands. This is something that I don’t get to do very often but truly enjoy. It makes me really happy. As someone who grew up by the sea, I feel that it is somewhere that I belong. I feel that when I am out at sea, I can confront and get rid of my problems and concerns. It is a beautiful place to be. If you can combine that with friends and family, it is special. Sailing is definitely a hobby of mine and an activity that makes such a positive difference to my mood.
