Food Court
Food Court: Tsitsipas and Sakkari, between forbidden pleasures and Greek delicacies
Greek stars talk gastronomy ahead of United Cup
December 27, 2024
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari aim to make a great start to the 2025 season by leading Greece in the United Cup starting this Saturday.
The Hellenes led their nation to the semifinals in 2023 and are looking to surpass that milestone. Although that hunger is not limited to Greece’s success on the field. Before making their debut against Spain this Saturday, ATPTour.com spoke with Tsitsipas and Sakkari about gastronomy.
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— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 25, 2024
Stefanos, let’s say Maria is coming to dinner tonight. What dish would you prepare?
Tsitsipas: Something Christmassy, ​​right? I would like to prepare turkey with potatoes and roasted vegetables, because I enjoy cooking it. Afterwards, I could make a nice Greek salad.
“Of course! We need a Greek salad on the table,” Sakkari replied.
Maria, what would you cook for Stefanos?
Sakkari: “HarÃa tiropita [tarda de queso griega] to start, also a Greek salad and kokkinisto as a main course. Kokkinisto is venison cooked in tomato sauce for hours.
“It’s very soft, I can’t wait to go to Greece!” Tsitsipas responded very excitedly.
How would you define your cooking skills?
Sakkari: “I’m not brilliant, but that’s okay. I try to do my best.
Tsitsipas: “It’s one of those things I’ve started recently. I’ve even bought cookbooks to improve when I have time. I don’t know if I’ll have enough in the next few years but I’m working on it.”
Do you have forbidden pleasures?
Sakkari: “I have many. I love souvlaki, but also burgers. They are my two main ones.
Tsitsipas: “I love revani, it is my greatest forbidden pleasure, but I don’t eat it every day. It is a sweet cake, a typical Greek dessert.
What do you normally eat the night before a game?
Sakkari: “Protein with rice, potatoes and vegetables. Sounds boring, nothing special.
What is the most mistaken belief about a player’s diet?
Tsitsipas: “That everyone eats like Novak Djokovic. That is a wrong idea.”
Sakkari: “I agree.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari ” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/images/news/2024/12/27/11/34/tsitsipas-sakkari-perth-2025-friday.jpg” style=”color: #999999; background-color: #f9f9f9; width: 589px;”>
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari at the United Cup 2025 in Perth. Photography: TENNIS AUSTRALIA.
With gastronomy as the theme at the United Cup, ATPTour.com asked Tsitsipas and Sakkari for a list of the top 10 Greek dishes in order of preference, but they didn’t know which delicacy would come next.
Loukoumades? [bolas de masa crujientes cubiertas de sirope]
7
Spanakopita? [tarta sabrosa de espinaca]
“Top 4 without a doubt, but where?” Sakkari says 3.
Fasolada? [sopa de alubia y tomate]
“Ooooh,” Tsitsipas marveled. 6
Souvlaki? [carne a la brasa en brocheta]
“That’s Top 2, without a doubt,” Tsitsipas said.
“We have to put it at 1,” asks Sakkari.
¿Dolmadakia? [hojas vegetales enrollados con carne y grano]
8
?Saganaki? [queso frito]
4
¿Moussaka? [lasaña con base de berenjena o patata]
“2. This one is simple.” They both agree.
Tzatziki? [yogur con salsa de calabacÃn]
5
¿Kleftiko? [cordero asado a fuego lento]
10
Pastitsio? [pasta al horno con carne]
“No! I forgot about the pastitsio. You saved the best food for last,” Sakkari lamented. “We’ll say 9.”
Source: https://www.atptour.com/es/news/greece-food-court-perth-2025
