"The way it ended was very obnoxious and unexpected" - Stefanos Tsitsipas aims for stricter partnership after re-hiring father as coach
ATP
Stefanos Tsitsipas has returned to being coached by his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, but is taking a different approach to avoid a similar scenario from when the last two worked together. A year ago, the two split after the Greek tennis player suffered a surprise defeat against Kei Nishikori in the Canadian Open.
There was a heated confrontation between father and son, which led to Tsitsipas removing his father from his team. During the match, Tsitsipas criticised his father's coaching as well as asking him to leave his box.
The then number 11 in the world was disappointed with his father at the time, as he said: “I need and I deserve a coach that listens to me and hears my feedback as a player. My father hasn’t been very smart or very good at handling those situations.”
His last coach was Goran Ivanisevic, who used to coach 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The Croatian was not shy about speaking his mind about Tsitsipas, with him calling his current form a 'disaster', with the former World number three now down to 30th in the world. The pair lasted less than two months.
Now with his father back, Tsitsipas is hopeful of regaining his form and pushing back up the rankings.
'It was a very difficult ending'
The father and son relationship turned ugly in last year's Canadian Open, leading to their split and some time to work things out. Tsitsipas reveals that their sudden ending was 'unexpected' and that he didn't 'recognise himself' by the end.
“It was a very difficult ending, the way it ended last year with him,” Tsitsipas said to Ziggo Sport on Sunday.
“He managed to get me to a point that I honestly didn’t even recognise myself, the way it ended and the way I reacted to this relationship, partnership that we formed over the last couple of years, the way it ended was very obnoxious and unexpected that it would happen in that way, in that fashion.
Looking back on it, the Greek said that he regrets and would not want to repeat many of the things which occurred in that period, and has worked on changing that by talking and spending time with him, not as his coach but as his father.
“But there are a lot of things that I regret from it," he said. "There are a lot of things that I wouldn’t want to repeat because even my behaviour and my reaction to it wasn’t very mature or wasn’t very me.
“He (Apostolos) definitely made me lose my control, my inner control as well. But we’ve talked a lot. Since then, we’ve spent a lot of weeks together. He’s been on a tour occasionally here and there, not as my coach, but as my father.”
Tsitsipas aims for more power in partnership
Tsitsipas is doing everything in his power not to have a repeat of last year. Despite the two moving on from the alteration, the two-time Grand Slam finalist cited changes in the dynamics of their partnership.
He aims to do this by being the dominant one, as he said: “I think I have to be strict with him. Sometimes I feel like he wants to do too many things on his own,” he explains.
“I’m trying to recalibrate that and make him understand that it’s also certain things need to happen the way I want them to happen. I think this relationship deserves way more than the way we’ve been treating it in the past.”
The pair will start over where they left off: in Toronto at the Canadian Open. He will play either Christopher O'Connell or Chun-Hsin Tseng in his opening game.
Read also
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.mandoist06-11-2026
- Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Having spent weeks and weeks through the years on tour, I can say with confidence that Conchita was (is) one of the very few who realize the surprising level of maturity (and sometimes lack of) which Mirra seems to have developed in such a demanding adult world of Pro-Tennis. While at the same time reminding herself (Conchita, that is) that Mirra is still young and developing mentally and physically. The general public may forget at times, or not at all realize, these modern era young athletes do not have a 'normal' Youth. It's a major sacrifice, among countless sacrifices, these athletes must make. People who blow-off that fact are ignorant and unfair when they blurt out, "They choose fame so they have to put up with the intrusions on their lives". No, they do not.mandoist05-11-2026
- Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.mandoist05-11-2026
- Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
- After a couple decades traveling to IIHF tourneys overseas... our family is done with it... and I will not be the only one!! Bad enough the NHL allows Ovachenko (a Putin Supporter and Campaigner) to live and play in the USA. Let's not forget the STATE SPONSORED RUSSIAN DOPING PROGRAMS still in effect today.mandoist31-10-2026
- Osaka's mental state apparently does not allow her to reach any more Quarter Finals? I mean, she doesn't really have the time for tennis with all the pre-planning that must go into her 12 year-old "fashion" goals.mandoist29-10-2026
- With her money one would think she could afford a better team of Psychiatrists?mandoist29-10-2026
