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Quote of the Day: Stefanos Tsitsipas on red wine, baguettes and Margot Robbie films

The Greek player shared his three keys to victory after a rollercoaster 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7) opening match against Jiri Vesely at Roland Garros.

ByStephanie Livaudais

Published May 28, 2023

WATCH: Stefanos Tsitsipas speaks with Tennis Channel after defeating Jiri Vesely in the first round of Roland Garros.

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When in Paris, do as the Parisians do… right? That has been Stefanos Tsitsipas’s motto, after he shook off a sluggish start to his Roland Garros campaign on Sunday.

The Greek was pushed to a fourth set tiebreaker by former Top 30 player Jiri Vesely, currently ranked No. 455. Vesely claimed the third set and led 6-3 in the tiebreak, before Tsitsipas charged back to save four set points and escape with the 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7) victory.

After struggling to find rhythm throughout the match, Tsitsipas says he’s now fully settled in.

“Today I got to feel the court a little bit by staying in it for a few hours,” he said with a wry smile. “I hope that helps, too… [and] red wine and baguettes.”

What else helps Tsitsipas get acclimated in Paris? Famously a fan of Australian actress Margot Robbie, the Greek player revealed his three keys to victory after the match:

Q: What do you need to do here at Roland Garros this year to make your dreams a reality?

STEFANOS TSITSIPAS: Watch Margot Robbie movies the day before the matches, I guess. That would help, for sure (smiling).

What could I do? As I said, plenty of red wine and baguettes would help do well in Paris. Let's just put that as an answer.

Australian Open finalist Tsitsipas—who also reached the final here in 2021—is looking to hit the ground running as he seeks his first Grand Slam title in Paris. And he’s got double the motivation, too: Should he lift Greece’s historic first major trophy, he will also ascend to the world No. 1 ranking for the first time at the end of the fortnight.

He arrived in the French capital with momentum, after reaching the semifinals in Rome bowing out to rival Daniil Medvedev. Tsitsipas also reached the quarterfinals in Madrid and Monte Carlo—where he was the two-time defending champion—and the final in Barcelona.

The No. 5 seed will next face Spain's Roberto Carballes Baena, who defeated American qualifier Emilio Nava 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-2.