Tsitsipas Feels Careers Would Last Longer With More Events On Clay & Grass

| by Tom Grant

Stefanos Tsitsipas believes tennis careers would last longer if there was more tournaments on grass or clay rather than hard courts.

The Greek, who has struggled post-Australian Open with a niggling shoulder injury, feels the demands of hard court tennis can take its toll on a player's body. The two-time Monte-Carlo Masters champion was speaking to the media after a straight sets defeat to Taylor Fritz on Court Rainier III on Friday.

And, when asked about his "Clay court in the US is like a Unicorn on a skateboard" camera message in the previous round, the World No.3 insists there should be more events on the softer turf. He explained:

"I've spoken about how I like the idea of [the] ATP sort of having more tournaments on clay and grass because these are very good for your body and I think a lot of players would agree with me on that. That we can have a longer careers by playing on the surfaces and that most injuries in fact come from hard courts."

Tsitsipas on the demands of hard court tennis
Two-Time Defending Champion Tsitsipas Stunned By Fritz In Monte Carlo
Two-Time Defending Champion Tsitsipas Stunned By Fritz In Monte Carlo

Adding that hard courts "put a lot of weight on your body", he expressed his concern at the length of the hard season, hinting that 'September to March' was perhaps too long. It is the second time in a number of days that the man from Athens has made a case for longer clay and grass seasons.

But he will now look towards the upcoming events in Rome and Barcelona where he will look to build on an indifferent start to the year thanks to the injury. He finished:

"It's probably the worst injury that I had on the tennis court so far. I have tried to change a few things... all these weights and all these stringing patterns, whatever, to help my arm, because it's the most important thing for me in the next 15 years."

Tsitsipas on injury woes
'You Have To Be From Another Planet To Compare To Rafa On Clay' Says Tsitsipas
'You Have To Be From Another Planet To Compare To Rafa On Clay' Says Tsitsipas

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