Stefanos Tsitsipas battled onerous on Sunday in opposition to Novak Djokovic within the Internazionali BNL d’Italia remaining. The issue was that Novak Djokovic was only a bit higher.

The Greek star praised Djokovic, whom he known as a “nice champion”, for his efficiency not simply in Rome, however over the previous a number of years.

“He has every little thing tuned in near perfection. Relating to his food plan or his on a regular basis life, his tennis, he has every little thing scheduled out very well,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “He is like a Formulation 1 automotive: each single small element can disrupt his rhythm. He makes certain each single factor that he does is reaching as near perfection as potential.”

Along with his straight-sets victory on the Foro Italico, Djokovic claimed a record-extending thirty eighth ATP Masters 1000 title.

“When it comes to speaking about tennis legends and breaking information, in the case of all this stuff, I personally suppose he is one of the skilled and the most effective of all of them,” Tsitsipas mentioned.

The Greek and Djokovic will subsequent compete at Roland Garros. Final 12 months, the pair clashed in a memorable championship match on the terre battue, with the Serbian rallying from two units right down to elevate the trophy.

They each have misplaced to red-hot Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz this clay-court season. Tsitsipas believes these are the 2 main favourites in Paris.

“Proper now Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic. They each play nice, nice tennis. I might put them as favourites,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “Proper now I would like to enhance a number of issues in my sport. I do not know if I’ll get there, however I hope I do with my onerous work by the point Roland Garros begins.

“I’d love myself to get round with these gamers and be there with them. However I’ll really want to place a bit extra consideration to element within the subsequent couple of weeks.”

13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal can also be all the time among the many main favourites on the clay-court main. However Tsitsipas additionally belongs within the dialog, as he’ll climb to second within the Pepperstone ATP Race To Turin on Monday.

The 23-year-old is 14-2 on clay this season, incomes his second Masters 1000 crown at Monte Carlo. Tsitsipas shouldn’t be getting forward of himself although, as he prepares to return to the venue the place he reached his first main remaining.

“It is a marathon that I’ve to run. Roland Garros is a marathon Grand Slam. Each Grand Slam is a marathon Grand Slam, however particularly Roland Garros,” Tsitsipas mentioned. “It actually takes probably the most out of you spiritually and bodily once you’re out on the courtroom. Clay courts [have] this potential to essentially squeeze each single a part of you. It’s a must to go away it, your all, on the market.

“I’m able to get a number of days of relaxation and begin practising once more to get into that Roland Garros mindset. I get pleasure from taking part in on this metropolis. I actually hope my tennis permits me to go deep this 12 months.”