Elena Christofi, the outstanding tennis player on the other side of the Atlantic, spoke to Sportish about her goals and dreams, the coveted return to the Grand Slam tournament, the experiences and awards at the University of Georgia, but also about Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Saccharides who are a source of inspiration for her.
It was August 2016 when the Elena Christofi decided at the age of 18 to make the long journey across the Atlantic. The young tennis player, who had previously participated in the Australian Open Junior and had two titles at Lyttos Beach in Heraklion on Crete, made the big step to America.
Greek tennis undoubtedly came into being thanks to Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari, but it is not limited to the present. On the contrary, she has a future, a special position that Christofi occupies, who has always had a bat in her hand for as long as she can remember.
“I started at five. My sister used to play tennis, so I kind of grew up on the court. “From a very young age, almost eight years old when I started playing games, tennis has become a part of my life.”
Interview with Maria Kouveli
Her first Grand Slam dashboard experience was at the Australian Open Junior in 2016: ““It was a great experience to be able to travel to Australia and play there.” highlighted features and added:
“The atmosphere was magical, there are a lot of Greeks coming and supporting. To be able to play in these stadiums where all the great players are playing and to be among them was special. It was a dream come true, to be able to play and be at such a high level and have all this experience”.
The 23-year-old Greek began her finance studies at the University of Georgia in 2016, where she received a scholarship, followed by a Masters in Financial Planning and Consulting.
But aside from her stellar career on the court – with a career high of 8th overall in the collegiate championship (ITA Collegiate Rankings) – Christofi also shone on the courses. Education and cultivation ended up being something that kept her very busy.
“I was settled in school, I was a good student and by high school I could combine them, I just lost a bit of training. In high school I went to a private school because they gave me the opportunity to play twice C ‘Lyceum, but following the Greek system with the Panhellenic ones you can not combine them, I decided, with the scholarship, that was given to me to go to America so I wouldn’t have to stop playing tennis.
I was wondering if I would play tennis professionally or not
Because of the world ranking (under 18 I had reached number 61 in the world) I was visited by different universities. I didn’t decide until late if I should go because at first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to. I was wondering if I would play tennis professionally or not.
So in May 2016 I made the decision to go to the University of Georgia and in August I did. It wasn’t easy to leave. At first I was worried about leaving my friends and family, but my family supported me. It was really a great experience going there.
Τthings were a little different. The program is tailored to help you perform well in both class and training. It was of course full from morning to night. Precisely because they take you for the sporting part, but also for the academic part, they try the most to help you so that you can achieve both”.
The truth is, it didn’t take long for her to stand out from the other athletes in college. On the contrary, it was one of the first years in which their presence was more than noticeable. In her freshman year of college, Elena Christofi secured a spot on the All-Southeastern Conference of the United States’ Team of the Year, which features the region’s top 14 tennis players.
Of course, the accolades continued for the Greek: in 2020, she emerged as a top athlete from the University of Georgia, which meant a very big honor when she won the nomination for the NCAA’s Best Female Athlete of the Year award.
This is the award for the best athlete of the year and the highest award in the United States university system, which includes athletes from all categories and from 24 different sports: “It was something very important. “It was an award that had to do with my academic as well as my sporting success.” mentioned features.
My biggest dream is to be in the top 10 in the world
The 23-year-old works hard and remains focused on her own “Ithaka”: “My biggest goal is to reach the highest possible level and compete again in the Grand Slam like I did in my youth. I want to be in the top 50 in the world, but in general my biggest dream is to be in the top 10 in the world and play both singles and doubles.
At the same time tTennis in Greece is experiencing one of its brightest seasons. The sport is thriving through the course of Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 4 in the world) and Maria Sakkari (No. 8), with Elena Christofi stressing that both are serious personalities as well as great athletes.
“I know both of them very well. I met Maria in 2016 when we were on the women’s national team together. We talk here and there, I’ll ask her for advice. With Stefanos, on the other hand, we actually grew up together.” and I traveled constantly between the ages of 12 and 18. I have a very good relationship. They are both very good, both as people and as athletes. I 100% admire what they do because it’s more important how you’re off the field. They’re both very good guys.
Maria gives me motivation and inspiration to work hard and achieve what I dream of
Stefanos and Maria made tennis very big as a sport in Greece where nobody was involved. They have helped differentiate and grow in our country. Now you see that many are interested in learning and watching.
The only bad thing is that some people take opinions and make judgments without knowing it. What the two kids are doing is admirable and nobody can blame them and when they lose a game they go out and say ‘it wasn’t good’.
Maria is a source of inspiration. “Seeing a Greek woman achieve so many things gives me great motivation and inspiration to work hard and achieve what I dream of.”
I am a sports writer and journalist who has written for various online publications including Sportish. I’m originally from the UK but currently live in Toronto, Canada. I’m also an author on Sportish and have written several articles on a variety of sports-related topics.
Check out some of the best tennis shots our photographers have taken over the past year
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, THE PRESS
American Coco Gauff returns a serve from Russian Veronika Kudermetova during their third round match on center court at the IGA stadium.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Victoria Mboko at work against Elena Rybakina in the semi-final at the National Bank Open
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Eugenie Bouchard on the backhand during her second round match at the National Bank Open
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Marta Kostyuk screams during her match against Daria Kasatkina at the National Bank Open.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Mirra Andreeva in action against McCartney Kessler at the National Bank Open
PHOTO HUGO-SÉBASTIEN AUBERT, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Naomi Osaka watches the ball in the first round of the National Bank Open against Ariana Arseneault.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Bianca Andreescu suffered an ankle injury against Barbora Krejčíková at the National Bank Open.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Liudmila Samsonova displays her muscles during her duel against Naomi Osaka at the National Bank Open.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
A doubles match pitting Italians Jasmine Paolini (right) and Sara Errani against Canadians Bianca Jolie Fernandez (left) and Leylah Annie Fernandez at the National Bank Open
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Daria Kasatkina keeps her eyes on the ball against Marta Kostyuk in the third round at the National Bank Open.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Victoria Mboko celebrates on court her victory against Naomi Osaka in the final of the National Bank Open.
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
40-year-old Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka He announced that he will retire in 2026.
“Every book must have an ending. It is time to write the last chapter of my career as a professional tennis player. In 2026, I will spend my last season on tour.”
I still want to challenge myself and complete this journey in the best possible way. I still have dreams about this sport. I enjoyed everything tennis gave me, especially the emotions I felt playing for you.
I look forward to meeting you again anywhere in the world. Last move,” Wawrinka wrote on social networks.
Stan has three Grand Slam trophies – Australian Open 2014, Roland Garros 2015 and US Open 2016. He also played in the Russian Federation final in 2017, where he lost to Rafael Nadal.
Wawrinka is currently ranked 157th in the ATP rankings. His personal best is third place.
During his career, Stan won 16 singles trophies and three doubles trophies at ATP level. At the 2008 Olympics, Wawrinka won the gold medal in the doubles tournament with Roger Federer. Stan won the Davis Cup with the Swiss team in 2014.
Wawrinka will start his farewell season with the national team in the United Cup (January 2-11).
🎾ONE LAST PRESS🎾
Every book needs an ending📕
It’s time to write the last chapter of my career as a professional tennis player 📝
2026 will be my last year on tour
determination
an ambition
Victim
Success
my injuries
O obsession
Never give up
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
(Montreal) The second half of 2025 could prove to be a pivotal moment in the history of tennis in the country. At the same time, it is the sequence of promising Canadian performances on the courts – hard surface, clay, grass, whatever – over the last 15 years.
The saying “little train goes a long way” applies quite well to Tennis Canada. And with six representatives in the top 50 at the end of 2025 – including Gabriela Dabrowski, 10e in doubles – which do not seem about to plateau, this little train could pick up speed in 2026.
The representatives of the Unifolié completed 2025 with 15 titles on the two major professional circuits, nine among the ladies, six among the men. Out of the lot, a triumph stands out.
“This year, it’s certain that the strongest moment, for me, was here, with Vicky Mboko’s victory,” says Valérie Tétreault, director of the National Bank Open, in an interview with La Presse Canadienne in her office on 2e floor at the IGA Stadium.
However, there were many more highlights on the Canadian tennis scene in 2025.
Félix Auger-Aliassime did more than his share with three titles, two additional finals, a semi-final appearance at the US Open and progression to fifth in the ATP rankings, a personal high.
PHOTO ANTONIO CALANNI, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Had it not been for Mboko’s exploit in Montreal and his meteoric rise to the 333e place, in January, until the 18the level of the world rankings, Auger-Aliassime’s performances would undoubtedly have been the highlight of the year at Tennis Canada.
To this, Mboko added a title to his record, in Hong Kong, in November. Leylah Annie Fernandez (22)e) won two tournaments, including one in the 500 category. Denis Shapovalov (23e) imitated her.
Exactly a year ago, Gabriel Diallo occupied 87e step; it will start 2026 on the 41e rank, helped by a first career title, in June, on grass.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Gabriel Diallo
Tétreault savors this list because, among other things, of the range of names it brings together.
“In other years, we had a player who performed well, and often, it was perhaps a little more difficult for the others. There, we really had the impression that at a given moment, they were all taking turns,” notes Tétreault.
“We had Denis who won [à Los Cabos, le 19 juillet]. Afterwards, it’s Leylah who wins in Washington [le 27 juillet]. We have Vicky winning here [le 7 août] and Felix, [qui excelle] straight after at the US Open. They were different players who were performing at the highest level,” she emphasizes.
To this list, we can add Dabrowski’s doubles titles in Cincinnati, a tournament of the caliber of Montreal, then at the United States Open three weeks later.
“To see this for Canadian tennis, I think that’s what makes me the most proud. I think we don’t realize how new it was not so long ago when Milos Raonic was starting to win ATP 250 titles,” she notes.
When Raonic defeated Fernando Verdasco on February 13, 2011 in the final of the San Jose tournament for the first of his eight career titles, it was the first time a Canadian had triumphed at an ATP singles tournament since Greg Rusedski in April 1995.
In 2014, Eugenie Bouchard’s title in Germany was only the second by a Canadian at a singles tournament in 26 years.
The time of such shortages seems to be over.
Since 2019, in singles alone, Canadian athletes have amassed around twenty titles. Auger-Aliassime has eight, in addition to 12 other appearances in tournament finals.
Despite all her pride, Tétreault is not necessarily surprised. She sees the emergence of players who had already shown great skills at the junior level. She also sees a dynamic there which is similar to a form of emulation.
“Apart from, perhaps, Gabriel Diallo, who we saw less coming, the others, already at a young age, had pretty much all been identified as hopes, not only of Canadian tennis, but hopes of international tennis. I think it was just a matter of time before they could hatch,” emphasizes Tétreault.
“But then, I think that there is still something in there like a kind of training phenomenon, in the sense that seeing a Canadian player experience success, it motivates the others. Then, we suddenly have the impression of being part of a movement,” she says.
Mboko’s unexpected triumph, moreover, was the exclamation point to another successful edition in Montreal, in a context where, for the first time, the main draw extended over 12 days and brought together 96 players in singles.
And what’s more, Mother Nature greatly collaborated.
At the end of the tournament, the organizers welcomed 287,329 spectators, a record, of course, for the women’s event in Montreal.
“As much as there were a lot of unknowns going into this year’s tournament, more than usual, I think we can say mission accomplished because we saw a format that worked well,” said Tétreault.
“My biggest concern was more about the reception of the players, knowing that they were roughly double what we were used to welcoming,” adds Tétreault.
“We wanted to make sure we had the necessary space. The way we reconfigured it, and with the results of the player survey and the feedback we received from the WTA, I think it demonstrated that we had done what we needed to do to be ready for this. »
In addition to revealing Mboko, the National Bank Open offered Eugenie Bouchard the chance to play on the court of her childhood by offering her a pass to the main draw.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Eugenie Bouchard
Bouchard thanked the organization by delivering two solid performances, even causing a lot of trouble for the Swiss Belinda Bencic, a quality player, in what was the Montrealer’s swan song in professional tennis.
I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.
