Stefanos Tsitsipas Re-engages Father as Coach
Stefanos Tsitsipas has decided to re-engage his father, Apostolos, as his head coach, following the recent termination of his coaching relationship with Goran Ivanisevic. The former world No. 3 player, Tsitsipas, aged 26, had a partnership with Ivanisevic that lasted less than two months, concluding last week.
Ivanisevic, known for coaching Novak Djokovic to nine of his 24 Grand Slam victories, reportedly did not mesh well with Tsitsipas, who has recently faced significant challenges on the circuit, including dropping to the 30th position in the ATP rankings.
Challenges and Critiques
After a disappointing early exit from Wimbledon, where he lost in the first round, Ivanisevic remarked on Tsitsipas’s performance, describing him as
“the most unprepared player”
he had ever seen. This hard-hitting critique followed Tsitsipas’s struggle to advance beyond the second round in each of the year’s initial Grand Slam events. His only notable success so far this year was a title victory in Dubai back in February.
Reflection and Future Outlook
Reflecting on this shift in his coaching dynamics, Tsitsipas shared his thoughts via social media, expressing a sense of nostalgia and gratitude for his father’s guidance.
“Some journeys have a way of circling back to where they began,”
he noted, adding that reuniting with Apostolos felt right. Tsitsipas emphasized his appreciation for sharing the court and the path ahead with his father, underscoring their long-standing partnership throughout his career.
His recent outing at the Canadian Open also highlighted the struggles he faces, as he was eliminated by Christopher O’Connell in the second round. The decision to return to his father as coach may signal a pivotal moment in Tsitsipas’s career as he looks to regain his footing and return to form on the professional tennis stage.
