“He’s not where he belongs”: Patrick Mouratoglou explains decision to join Tsitsipas team
ATPSaturday, 04 July 2026 at 02:30
Patrick Mouratoglou has confirmed he will be part of Stefanos Tsitsipas’ coaching structure, marking a formalisation of a new setup around the Greek player as he attempts to reverse a sustained drop in results and rankings. The announcement comes during a transitional phase for Tsitsipas, who recently ended his long-standing professional relationship with his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas.
The world No. 88 has begun working with Thomas Perrin, a long-time coach within the Mouratoglou Academy system, as his primary on-tour coach. Mouratoglou’s involvement is designed to function as an oversight role rather than full-time travel, with collaboration centred around training blocks at the Academy and selected tournaments during the season.
Tsitsipas arrives at Wimbledon following another difficult stretch of form, having failed to progress beyond the second round in his last eight Grand Slam appearances. His grass-court build-up also ended early with a first-round defeat in Mallorca, extending a broader pattern of inconsistency across surfaces.
The coaching restructure represents another attempt to stabilise his career after a prolonged period of underperformance relative to his earlier peak, which included a Grand Slam final and ATP Finals title.
Mouratoglou confirms supervisory role in Tsitsipas rebuild project
Mouratoglou outlined a defined division of responsibilities within the new structure, confirming that he will oversee key sporting areas while Perrin manages day-to-day coaching duties on tour.
“I confirm what Stefanos has said in an interview, that I'll be part of the team,” the French coach said. “I will supervise the practice, the matches, and work alongside Thomas Perrin, who's been the coach of the Academy for many years.”
He added that his involvement is shaped by a temporary reduction in his tour presence, while still maintaining a close working relationship with Tsitsipas. “I actually took the decision not to go on tour for a little while, for a lot of reasons, professional and personal.
"The relationship I have with Steph for so many years is really strong; he's someone who is very important for me, and I think he's not where he belongs at the moment in terms of ranking and results.”
Collaboration model built around Perrin and Academy structure
The operational structure will place Perrin in charge of daily coaching on the ATP Tour, with Mouratoglou contributing remotely and during selected tournament blocks. The framework includes pre-match preparation, tactical debriefing and post-match evaluation, with both coaches sharing responsibilities depending on location and schedule.
“Whenever he's on tour, I will collaborate with Thomas on a daily basis for all the training programs, to do all the debrief before matches, also all the debriefing after the matches, and to prepare the matches. I think it's a good solution.”
Mouratoglou also highlighted the importance of internal communication between the Academy and tour-based coaching staff, acknowledging that his absence from the circuit requires reliance on Perrin’s direct observations.
“There are a lot of things I cannot see because I'm not here to see them, so I trust Thomas' eyes and his feedback to get the information that I don't get directly. We try to really collaborate as closely as possible.”
Stefanos Tsitsipas – Last 10 Grand Slam campaigns
| Tournament | Round | Lost to (Ranking) | Score |
| Roland Garros 2024 | QF | Carlos Alcaraz (No. 3) | 6-3, 6-7, 4-6, 4-6 |
| Wimbledon 2024 | 2R | Emil Ruusuvuori (No. 87) | 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6 |
| US Open 2024 | 1R | Thanasi Kokkinakis (No. 86) | 6-7, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7 |
| Australian Open 2025 | 1R | Alex Michelsen (No. 42) | 5-7, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6 |
| Roland Garros 2025 | 2R | Matteo Gigante (No. 167) | 4-6, 7-5, 2-6, 4-6 |
| Wimbledon 2025 | 1R | Valentin Royer (No. 113) | 3-6, 2-6, RET. |
| US Open 2025 | 2R | Daniel Altmaier (No. 56) | 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7 |
| Australian Open 2026 | 2R | Tomas Machac (No. 24) | 4-6, 6-3, 6-7, 6-7 |
| Roland Garros 2026 | 2R | Matteo Arnaldi (No. 104) | 6-7, 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 |
| Wimbledon 2026 | 2R | Novak Djokovic (No. 8) | 3-6, 4-6, 2-6 |
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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