Stefanos Tsitsipas sets sights on Olympic medal as he aims to bounce back from injury

Stefanos Tsitsipas is hoping he can “reboot” himself for the new tennis season, as he looks to move past a back injury that disrupted the tail-end of his 2023 campaign.

The Greek world No 6 was forced to retire from his second match at the ATP Finals last month, his back issues resulting in an abrupt end to his season.

Speaking to The National on the sidelines of the World Tennis League at Etihad Arena on Sunday, Tsitsipas said he was in a “better condition” than before and that his back has “almost healed”.

The 25-year-old did not contest any singles sets during the exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, and instead stuck to playing doubles and mixed doubles.

He will begin his 2024 season at the United Cup in Sydney, where he will lead Greece, alongside his compatriot Maria Sakkari, in their opening clash against Chile on January 2.

“I wasn’t able to get the preparation that I actually needed – I’m talking about all the weeks (I was hoping to get),” said Tsitsipas of his preseason training.

“However, I did spend quality time with my family and I did spend a few weeks trying to find a solution to all of this [physical problems] and I think it paid off, going for many days in a row into rehab and committing myself to the process of absolute healing.”

Tsitsipas started 2023 with a bang, winning his opening 10 matches of the season by going undefeated in singles at the United Cup to help guide Greece to the semi-finals before marching to the Australian Open final. It was Tsitsipas’s second appearance in a Grand Slam final and his second defeat to Novak Djokovic at that stage in a major.

“I can definitely gain confidence from that,” Tsitsipas said, reflecting on his exploits in Australia 11 months ago. “However, I don’t reminisce and I don’t think too much about what happened in Australia this year. My whole plan is to reboot myself and get myself going for something absolutely new this season with a different quality of tennis I may say.”

Tsitsipas has always been goal-oriented, and likes to set concrete targets ahead of each season. Asked about what he hopes to accomplish in 2024, the Athens-native said: “I want to obviously bring an Olympic medal back to my country, that is a goal of mine.

“I want to win a Grand Slam title, that is also a goal of mine. For sure, in order for me to do these things I need to be healthy because there was a time this season where certain circumstances didn’t allow me to perform at 100 per cent; what I’m talking about those instances, they appeared after the Australian Open this year, and towards the end of the season.

“I’m just hoping not to be that limited and to explore further in 2024.”

Djokovic beats Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

Tsitsipas has been a constant fixture in the world’s top-10 since he made his debut in that elite ranking bracket back in February 2019. He entered the top three for the first time in 2021 and has hovered around the top-five threshold for the majority of the last three seasons.

Hampered by physical issues, changes to his coaching staff, and inconsistent results, which coincided with some stellar performances from Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Jannik Sinner, Tsitsipas finds himself outside of the top five as he enters a new season.

While he plans on reasserting himself as one of the tour’s best, Tsitsipas acknowledges it won’t be an easy feat.

“We have great quality of tennis players, ones that can push each other to the limits. I think the moment has come where tennis is at its peak in a way,” said Tsitsipas.

“I’m lucky to be in that era because it’s an era that is constantly developing and it kind of reaches new heights.

“My goal there is to improve my own qualities and my own tennis that comes with the whole package in order to compete against these players, because these are the fittest, strongest, most enduring tennis players that our sport has seen in a long time.”

Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do

Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.

“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”

Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.

Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.

“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”

For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.

“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Stefanos Tsitsipas sets sights on Olympic medal as he aims to bounce back from injury

Greek world No 6 targets Paris glory and first Grand Slam title in 2024

Djokovic beats Tsitsipas in Australian Open final

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