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French Open finalist, Tsitsipas learnt of grandmother’s death minutes final match

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Stefanos Tsitsipas said there are more important things in life than winning trophies. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed that he was hit with news of his grandmother’s death just minutes before his epic five-set French Open final loss to Noval Djokovic  on Sunday (June 13).

In an Instagram post early Monday morning, the 22-year-old dedicated his first Grand Slam final to her after Djokovic overturned a two-set deficit to win 6-7 (6/8), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and secure his 19th Grand Slam title.

“Five minutes before entering the court my very beloved grandmother lost her battle with life. A wise woman whose faith in life, and willingness to give and provide can’t be compared to any other human being that I have ever met,” Tsitsipas wrote of the grandmother on his father’s side.

Stefanos Tsitsipas instagram post

“It’s important to have more people like her in this world. Because people like her make you come alive. They make you dream.”

Tsitsipas is widely seen as the natural heir to the sport’s “Big Three” of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal but, after receiving the bad news, he said there are more important things in life than winning trophies.

“Life isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about enjoying every single moment in life whether that’s alone or with others,” he wrote.

“Living a meaningful life without misery and abjection. Lifting trophies and celebrating wins is something, but not everything.”

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-AFP

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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