After a hard-fought win against Botic van de Zandschulp in the Round of 16, Stefanos Tsitsipas advanced to the quarterfinals of the Swiss Indoors in Basel with a 7-6, 7-5 victory. This win brought him closer to the elusive qualification for his sixth consecutive ATP Finals. However, despite his efforts, Tsitsipas now faces a daunting path to Turin, made more challenging by his recent quarterfinal loss to French rising star Arthur Fils, who toppled him 6-7, 3-6.
Entering the quarterfinals, Tsitsipas was ranked 12th in the Live Race to Turin. Only eight players will make it to the year-end tournament, and Tsitsipas needed a substantial points boost to bridge the 745-point gap between himself and Andrey Rublev, who currently holds the 8th spot. A victory in Basel, worth 500 points, would have been ideal for the Greek star to inch closer to a Turin qualification. Despite having a 7-2 record in Basel, Tsitsipas struggled against the confident, in-form Fils, who ultimately halted his progress. With the loss, Tsitsipas remains in 12th place in the Live Race with 2,975 points, leaving his fate hanging on his performance at the Paris Masters.
One positive for Tsitsipas amidst this setback was that Rublev also stumbled in the Basel quarterfinals, losing to American Ben Shelton. This prevented Rublev from extending his lead over Tsitsipas and other players vying for a spot in Turin. Nevertheless, Tsitsipas’s defeat has put a considerable dent in his qualification chances, and he now needs a deep run in Paris to secure his place among the top eight. Tsitsipas, who captured his first ATP Finals title in 2019, is keen on returning to Turin with hopes of a second victory in the prestigious tournament.
During this challenging period, Tsitsipas found a source of comfort and support in his girlfriend, Paula Badosa. The Spanish WTA player, who ended her season after an injury-plagued year, was by his side in Basel to lift his spirits. Badosa, who had to withdraw from the Tokyo Open following her semifinal retirement at the Ningbo Open due to injury, opted not to return to Spain immediately. Instead, she traveled to Switzerland to support Tsitsipas in his Swiss Indoors campaign. She arrived in Basel before his first-round match against Francisco Cerundolo, where Tsitsipas pulled off a 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 victory in a tightly contested encounter.
Following his quarterfinal loss, Badosa took Tsitsipas on an outing to explore the scenic city of Basel, sharing snippets of their day on her Instagram stories. In one heartwarming post, she captured a moment where Tsitsipas, still recovering from his loss, managed to crack a smile as Badosa blew him a kiss. The couple, endearingly referred to by fans as “Tsitsidosa,” has become one of the tennis world’s most beloved pairs. Since they got together, briefly split, and then reunited, they have been known for supporting each other through the highs and lows of their respective careers. While Tsitsipas grapples with the prospect of missing out on Turin, Badosa’s presence has been a bright spot, reminding him that there is more to life than tennis.
Despite his Basel setback, Tsitsipas remains focused on Turin. His Live Race position may be precarious, but the Paris Masters offers a final shot at securing the points he needs. A title in Paris could provide up to 1,000 points, enough to catapult him into the top eight. However, Tsitsipas will need to outperform the players directly above him in the rankings, especially if he wants to secure his place. With just one qualifying spot realistically available after Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Daniil Medvedev already secured their spots, Tsitsipas’s Paris campaign will require both precision and resilience.
For Tsitsipas, qualifying for the ATP Finals has significance that goes beyond simply ending the season on a high. In his view, the year-end championships represent a level of prestige that rivals even that of the Grand Slams. Tsitsipas has previously spoken passionately about the ATP Finals, emphasizing the honor of competing in an event that gathers only the very best players. “It’s a whole celebration,” Tsitsipas shared in an interview, “The ATP Finals is a commemoration and celebration of the best of the best in our sport. We all gather together, and we get to play against each other and focus on the fact that we are the best in the world trying to fight for this mega trophy, which is a grand prize in our sport.”
In fact, Tsitsipas considers the ATP Finals to be a “bigger thing than a Slam.” He went on to elaborate, “It means a lot. I would consider it probably a bigger thing than a Slam, honestly. It has big prestige and it’s a very valuable asset if you’re able to conquer and win it.” His dedication to the tournament shows just how important Turin is to him and why he’s determined to put up a strong fight in Paris.
Yet, as things stand, Tsitsipas’s journey to Turin will be anything but straightforward. The upcoming Paris Masters will be the defining moment for the Greek star’s 2024 season. A deep run in Paris could potentially secure him a spot at the Finals, while an early exit might see his season end abruptly in the French capital. His fans and supporters, alongside his partner Badosa, are undoubtedly hoping for a stellar performance that will enable him to book his place in the elite tournament.
With a challenging road ahead, Tsitsipas’s determination and talent will be put to the test as he attempts to close out his season on a high note. Whether he ultimately qualifies for Turin or not, his journey has demonstrated the ups and downs of an intense ATP season, and the Paris Masters will serve as the final battleground in his quest for another shot at the ATP Finals crown.