Stefanos Tsitsipas reeling after US Open exit: "Nothing compared to the player I was before"

Stefanos Tsitsipas was left searching for answers on Wednesday, after suffering an early upset at the US Open at the hands of Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

The No. 11 seed’s defeat on Grandstand marked the second time in three years that Tsitsipas has bowed out in the opening round at Flushing Meadows—the only major where he is yet to move past the third round.

Tsitsipas cut an introspective figure during his post-match press conference, where he reflected on his recent slumping form. He revealed that his struggles actually go back even longer, as he opened up about the effects of what he called “long-term burnout.”

Read More: Stefanos Tsitsipas feels at a crossroads in Cincinnati after coaching split from father Apostolos

“What I’m struggling with right now,” Tsitsipas explained, “is getting into that rhythm of wins and consistent good runs in Masters 1000s and big tournaments, those moments I had two or three years ago.

“I remember feeling great, being able to reproduce that week after week. Right now I’m way too far from even doing that. I just need to find ways that can help me get back to the wins first.”

The former world No. 3, currently sitting outside the ATP’s Top 10, was brutally honest in his self-assessment as he reflected on his career after his 2021 peak:

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: I’m nothing compared to the player I was before. I remember myself playing when I was younger, playing with adrenaline on the court, feeling like my life depends on the match...

These things, I feel like they have faded off, and let’s say my level of consistency hasn’t been as big.

I remember my concentration used to be at its highest, at its peak, back then, and that’s something that I felt has dropped a little bit. I know it sounds strange, but I feel like I need the hunger to reproduce the hunger I had back then.

I’m not a person that feels alright or settles for normal stuff. Like, I really want to regenerate it and bring it back, because it brought a lot of joy to my tennis when I was able to feel that way on the court.

I really don’t know why it has dropped the last couple of months. I would even consider it like one to two years I’ve been feeling that way, but I guess I was just able to hide it a bit better and put it to the side a bit more.

The defeat is another low point during a tumultuous summer for Tsitsipas, who came into the event with a 1-2 record on North American hard-courts. The US Open marked the second tournament since dismissing father Apostolos from his long-term coaching position after mid-match confrontation in Montreal.

The 26-year-old is currently working with Dimitris Hadjinikolaou, Greece’s Davis Cup captain, while he searches for a new coach. But the rest won’t be a quick fix, says Tsitsipas.

Read More: Stefanos Tsitsipas, after on-court "confrontation" with father, says that Apostolos is no longer his coach

“I’m not an expert, I’m not a psychologist or psychiatrist, but I’ve had these discussions before with some of the people that I’ve spoken to and I do feel like there is some sort of a long-term burnout,” Tsitsipas revealed.

“I’ve already been feeling it since the beginning of the year. I feel like it’s a type of burnout that, regardless if you stop or not, it has happened already and it’s not going to repair or regenerate itself just purely because of vacation or staying away from the courts.”

Indeed, Tsitsipas won’t be away from the courts at the US Open for too long: He is scheduled to compete in mixed doubles with girlfriend Paula Badosa on Thursday.