Stefanos Tsitsipas
“Exchanging ideas with Alisha is inspiring” – the tennis star raves about Lehmann
Tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas (ATP 5) started the French Open with a bumpy start. For 20 minutes before the tournament, he explained his friendly relationship with national team player Alisha Lehmann.
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Florian Gnägi(from Paris)
published30. May 2023, 17:28
Shown up on the tennis court at the national training camp in winter: Alisha Lehmann.
Instagram/alishalehmann7
Stefanos Tsitsipas gave her one of his rackets a little later.
REUTERS
At Roland Garros, Tsitsipas survived the opening round with some difficulty but fighter heart against qualifier Jiri Vesely (ATP 455).
AFP
In Paris, the Greek answered a question lasting 20 minutes that he often exchanged views with Lehmann and supported her.
Getty Images
The 24-year-old is not his only source of inspiration from another sport, says Tsitsipas.
Instagram/alishalehmann7
He also regularly exchanges ideas with compatriot and basketball superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.
IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
Lehmann on the tennis court in Marbella during the winter training camp with her teammates Rachel Rinast (left) and Géraldine Reuteler (middle).
Instagram/alishalehmann7
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Stefanos Tsitsipas won his first round game in Roland Garros against Jiri Vesely on Sunday.
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Previously, the Greek tennis player spoke about how footballer Alisha Lehmann inspires him.
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The Nati kicker had received a racket from Tsitsipas months ago.
“Alisha is a gifted athlete and plays very good football,” praised tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipa’s Nati kicker Alisha Lehmann when he addressed his friendship with the Swiss 20 minutes at a press conference before the start of Roland Garros.
The Greek started the French Open on Sunday with a hard-fought 4-set win over Jiry Vesely (ATP 455) and is known for thinking outside the box of his sport. Tsitsipas explains that he has always looked for sources of inspiration from other sports. For example, he is in frequent contact with NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now he wanted to try the same thing with a female sports star, says the 24-year-old.
“At the moment I’m in a phase of my life in which having friends and connections with people means a lot to me,” philosophizes the tennis star, who is known for his sometimes witty remarks.
Tsitsipas admits to being an Aston Villa fan
“It was really very inspiring to talk to Alisha,” enthuses the man with the one-handed backhand about the native of Bern. With her he can talk openly about things that he is not used to in conversations with “normal people”. “A very nice friendship has developed from this,” says Tsitsipas, who comes out as a big supporter of Lehmann’s club. “I’m a big fan of Aston Villa and have always supported them,” reveals the Athenian, who also announced himself as an Argentina supporter on Instagram at the World Cup.
Friendship started through Insta-Post
At least the public exchange between the footballer and Tsitsipas began at the beginning of the year. At that time, the Swiss women’s national team held their training camp in Marbella, Spain, during which Lehmann and her teammates tried out the yellow felt ball.
When the social media queen then posted photos from the tennis session on Instagram, she challenged Stefano’s little brother Petros Tsitsipas (ATP 1398) to a mixed doubles. Stefanos Tsitsipas gave her a signed racket a little later – Lehmann was happy and put a picture with the racket online. The beginning of an unusual friendship between two prominent sports figures.
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2023-05-30 15:28:03
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