How One of Greece's Best Tennis Players is Joining the Spartans in Battle

Michigan State men's tennis redshirt freshman Aristotelis Thanos has yet to play for the Spartans, but the Athens native is already a familiar face in Greek tennis. Thanos earned his fourth selection to the Greek Davis Cup team for its World Group 1 tie against Slovakia in Athens on Sept. 16-17.

Thanos was on the Greek squad in draws against Jamaica, Tunisia and Ecuador. He did not play against Slovakia, but has won two Davis Cup matches. Thanos beat top-600 ranked Andres Andrade in Greece's win over Ecuador in the World Group 1 Playoff in February.

"Representing is a unique feeling. I'm loving it," Thanos, 22, said. "Being in Greece, and playing in Greece, it's really probably my favorite feeling."

The Davis Cup is the top international team competition in men's tennis. Over 140 countries compete in the tournament every year. Thanos is the first player from MSU to ever play in the Davis Cup.

"It's a really cool experience for him. He's playing in front of 20,000 fans," Michigan State Head Coach Harry Jadun said. "It's a big deal. Televised internationally, and he's playing with one of the best players in the world in Stefanos Tsitsipas."

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world's No. 5-ranked player, headlined the Greek squad. The team relied heavily on Tsitsipas against Slovakia, asking him to play back-to-back matches on the second day of the competition. Tsitsipas grew fatigued and lost both matches, as Slovakia won 3-1 and advanced to the Davis Cup World Qualifiers.

Thanos described Tsitsipas' influence on the team as being a leader by example.

"He gives a lot to the team. He's a really, really generous person," Thanos said. "He wants everyone to learn from him."

The Davis Cup tie took place at the historic Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece, the first tennis matches held at the venue that hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. The world's only all-marble stadium is one of Athens' most famous tourist attractions.

"The whole thing is like 20 minutes from my house," Thanos said.

While home in Athens, Thanos had just a few hours to see family and friends. Most of his time was spent practicing with the team and helping them prepare for the weekend's matches.

Playing for his country in the Davis Cup was something Thanos envisioned early in his tennis career. He first represented Greece at the junior level when he was 15. Moving across the world to play at Michigan State was not always one of Thanos' goals. It was, however, something that Jadun hoped for from the moment he saw Thanos play for the first time.

Thanos first met Jadun while playing at a future pro tournament in Greece. Jadun was at the tournament to watch another player, but Thanos' impressive play and 6-foot-4-inch frame stole Jadun's attention.

"I just saw Aris playing, and he was playing at a really high level," said Jadun. "So then after the match I kind of went up to him and talked to him, and I said, hey, would you be interested in college tennis?"

Thanos, who turned pro in 2019, had not considered playing college tennis before Jadun approached him with the idea.

"I thought he would say no," said Jadun. "Because he's a really good player, and a lot of those types of players, they're looking to continue their professional career."

To Jadun's surprise, Thanos expressed lots of interest. He knew many players from Greece that played college tennis in the U.S., and was familiar with the potential for college tennis to help him grow as a player and further his professional career.

"He's looking to take his game to the next level, and with the resources, facilities and things like that that we have here, we can definitely make that happen," said Jadun.

Thanos said the biggest difference in his training since coming to East Lansing is the team aspect of the sport. In Europe, much of his training was done individually.

"It pushes you," Thanos said of practicing with MSU. "You've got to always push, because you're thinking about your teammates too."

In addition to his impressive singles record at the Davis Cup, Thanos has won three ITF doubles titles, including two with his Davis Cup teammate Petros Tsitsipas, Stefanos' younger brother.

Thanos redshirted upon joining the Spartans in January 2023, but will be eligible to play for Michigan State starting in January for the Spring Season. Thanos will be competing along side one of the most talented squads in team history. Sophomore Ozan Baris and junior Max Sheldon were ranked as the No. 2 doubles pairing in the country, an MSU record. Baris and graduate transfers Ronald Hohmann III and Sebastien Collard were also ranked in the top-125 in singles.

"We can achieve great things," Thanos said. "I don't think there's any team we can't compete against."

Michigan State University Athletics

How One of Greece's Best Tennis Players is Joining the Spartans in Battle

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Aristotelis Thanos

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