Tsitsipas tipping himself on grass

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS is confident that he has finally ended his grasscourt hoodoo after winning his first title on the surface.

The 23-year-old has only once made it out of the first round at Wimbledon in four attempts but won the Mallorca Open on grass at the weekend.

The world No6 has long had the sort of serve-volleying game suited to grass but only once has he made any inroads at Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round in 2018. That result has been the exception rather than the norm at the third Grand Slam of the season, but the Greek (right) said: “People kind of doubted that I can play on grass, I think it’s fair to say.

“I never doubted myself. I said that I can play on this surface and it remains one of my favourite surfaces that tennis has to offer.

“I guess I proved to myself that it’s not a surface that I don’t like. I like playing on grass, probably more than clay. Last year was difficult. I didn’t play a single match before Wimbledon on grass. I was trying to play like I did on clay, which was a huge mistake. Technique-wise, tactics-wise, it all fell apart. “For me, it’s a new start here at Wimbledon. I see myself a little bit different in terms of how I perceive this surface.

“The thing I hope for is just to get past the first round and see where that leads from there.”