Tsitsipas Praises Djokovic's 'Secret Recipe' But Criticises Nadal's 'Routines That Have Cost Him'

| by Alex Waite

Rafael Nadal's longevity has been stunted by his preparation compared to the discipline of Novak Djokovic, according to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

At 2023 Wimbledon, Djokovic is currently competing to defend his 2022 title, whilst also trying to add a fifth consecutive men's singles win at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. World number five Tsitsipas is also taking part in the Grand Slam event as he took on Dominic Thiem in the first round.

However, Nadal is a big omission from Wimbledon this season as the Spanish player continues to recover from surgery, which ruled him out of the 2023 campaign. But, Tsitsipas shared his opinions on the difference between Nadal and Djokovic in an interview with SDNA, where the Greek player said Nadal's approach to preparation has contributed to his physical struggles.

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"I have observed his routines and seen how professional he is at what he does. It's completely normal that he's playing at this level. I don't want to say anything bad about Nadal, but he has different routines that have cost him his career with injuries and I know why these things happen."

Tsitsipas told SDNA

"Novak has avoided it, his diet is the most incredible in tennis, his recovery is the most advanced I have seen, so I also take some elements and add them to my own tennis. I think that's also why he's going so strong at an age where you'd think your level would drop, which is normal."

When reflecting on Djokovic's dominance in Grand Slams, Tsitsipas believes the Serbian has found a winning formula and consistency that has given him the confidence to progress deep into any major competition.

"Somehow he has (the trophy in his pocket)! To me, the truth is, he is stubborn. And I want like crazy to be able to defeat him and show that I'm capable of doing something too, but he's found the secret recipe of how he can be there in every slam, go deep without any problem against any opponent. Works like clockwork!"

WATCH: Tsitsipas Steals the Show By Hugging Interviewer After Match
WATCH: Tsitsipas Steals the Show By Hugging Interviewer After Match

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