Stefanos Tsitsipas has a Greek father and a Russian mother, giving him the opportunity to represent Russia internationally, but he chose Greece instead.
Tsitsipas takes great pride in his Greek heritage and actively promotes the country and tennis. He aspires to elevate Greece into a tennis powerhouse by inspiring others to take up the sport.
Although Tsitsipas acknowledges his Russian roots, he rarely discusses them publicly due to being born and raised in Greece. While he had the opportunity to play for Russia in the past, he ultimately chose Greece because it felt right for him.
Reflecting on the past opportunity to represent Russia, Tsitsipas mentioned that the topic was brought up when he was 16 but his focus was solely on his tennis game at the time.
“I had little information about this. I remember my parents said something on this topic when I was, I think, about 16. But I never understood how serious this proposal was. At that time I was absolutely focused on my game and didn’t think about anything else.”
“Maybe some things passed me by, but there was never any substantive conversation on this topic within the family. I was born and raised in Greece, so I always felt Greek and was proud of it.”
Despite Russia boasting a strong lineup of tennis players, Tsitsipas proudly represents Greece. He recognizes and respects his Russian heritage as well as the rich history and culture of the country.
“But I was also proud of the Russian half of his family. This is a country with a great culture and history of global scale and importance. I have always respected my roots and never thought of them as something self-evident.”
