Sports and Religion are very different fields but both share a common ground- discipline. However, there are athletes who thrive when the two converge. Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas is one of those! He recently opened up about his value system and beliefs. The Tennis star also spoke of the Dalai Lama, whom he sees as his guru.
Tsitsipas recently appeared on a podcast, where he spoke on a variety of topics, ranging from his personal to professional life. He was also asked about his religious beliefs.
Stefanos spoke about the good side of religion while acknowledging the controversies surrounding it at present. He also spoke of the Dalai Lama and how much he has learned from the Buddhist Spiritual leader.
“I do enjoy the teachings of the Dalai Lama a lot. He is someone that has taught me how to slow down, and how to be appreciative and thankful for the little things that add meaning to my life,” revealed Tsitsipas.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is one among others like Serena Williams and Coco Gauff, for whom religion is important. And it seems the Dalai Lama’s teachings have helped him further his career and his personal life.
Tsitsipas is the kind of person, who despite following a different faith, can appreciate other religions. His words suggest he has been inspired by Buddhism, even though he is not a Buddhist himself.
Where does Stefanos Tsitsipas come from and what religion does he practice?
Stefanos Tsitsipas was born in Athens on August 12, 1998. His father is Apostolos Tsitsipas, who also coached Stefanos for most of his career. His mother Julia Salnikova, was also a tennis player in her youth. Both Julia and Apostolos have trained Stefanos since he was three years old.
Tsitsipas has both Greek and Russian ancestry and grew up with the best of both worlds. His mother’s twin sister was also a tennis player and even represented the Soviet Union. His maternal Grandfather was Sergei Salnikov, the former manager of the soccer club FC Spartak Moscow. He was also a member of the national team that won an Olympic gold medal.
Besides tennis, Tsitsipas is an avid follower of soccer. He supports the local soccer team AEK Athens. He also has his own vlogging channel on YouTube, where he frequently uploads travel videos.
Even though Stefanos is inspired by Buddhism, he is a Greek Orthodox Christian. It is a branch of Christianity practiced by the Greeks, hence the name.
The player has spoken about his religious beliefs in the past. Tsitsipas also believes that one can learn from other religions and apply it to their life. Every religion serves a purpose, and people can learn from the stories behind it.