Stefanos Tsitsipas' Top 10 exit almost two months ago hit him so hard that he compared it to being demoted from a job.
In mid-February, Tsitspas' slump cost him dearly, as he left the world's Top 10 for the first time since joining that group in 2019. Points dropped in the round of 16 at the Australian Open, where he reached his second Grand Slam final last year, contributed to that downfall.
His rivals, Hubert Hurkacz, Alex de Minaur, and Taylor Fritz, also made up in points and rankings. His Top 10 exit also set an infamous ATP record of no single-handed backhands in the elite club for the first time since the rankings were incepted in 1973.
It wasn't until this year's European clay swing that Tsitsipas managed to turn his season around. He scored three high-quality wins over Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, and Casper Ruud on his way to his third Monte-Carlo Masters title.
His spectacular title-winning week in Monaco imminently secured his Top 10 return. Tsitsipas is currently eyeing a spot in the world's top five sooner. And having made another final in Barcelona, that goal looks very much possible.
In a recent interview with Corriere dello Sport ahead of his second-round match at the Italian Open, Tsitspas expressed his disappointment at losing his place in what he calls an exclusive club. He felt his status diminished and referred to the experience as "strange."
"If you saw how emotional I was in Monte Carlo you can understand how much it meant to me. Coming out of the Top 10 was strange. First you feel like the CEO of a company and suddenly you're an employee again."
"The Top 10 is an exclusive club and you understand the value when you're no longer there. It's true that it's just a number, but for us tennis players it means a lot. I hope to do even more and get back into the top 5. I only have one career and I want to make the most of it."
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