Stefanos Tsitsipas who slammed his father Apostolos Tsitsipas following his loss at the
Canadian Open against Kei Nishikori for not listening to him has dispensed of him.
Tsitsipas was well beaten by Nishikori 6-4, 6-4. He asked his father to leave during the match and called him out post-match. He released a statement in Greek on social media saying that he will remain solely as his father.
But he also apologised for his conduct on court in slamming his father after the Nishikori loss. It seems to have had an effect though with Tsitsipas deciding to seek a different route. Albeit he has done it before whilst going back to his father previously.
"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my cooperation with my father as a coach has come to an end. I prefer to keep my father in his role as a father, and only as a father," said Tsitsipas.
"Philosophy teaches us that wisdom comes through understanding our limitations and recognizing our mistakes. In my case, I realized I was wrong to talk to my father the way I did. Tennis is not just a match, a shot or a few seconds' performance. It's a long journey full of emotions, pressure and expectations. In that moment of disappointment, there were many miscues and mistakes on the part of my coach and father. As an introvert, I tend to hold on to my emotions and build them up until I reach an explosion point. I consider myself patient, so the fact that I reacted in this way left me in shock.
"My behavior on the court was unacceptable, and I feel disappointed that I reached a point that showed a darker side of myself. When I feel disrespected, judged or emotionally attacked, I tend to lose control of what comes out of my mouth, which goes against my values as a human being. I lost control and could not see clearly in front of me.
"My father has been trying for the past few years to educate me, raise me the right way and provide me with knowledge and wisdom both on and off the field. I thank him for that. I thank him for the sacrifices, pain and suffering he has endured to make this effort succeed. From now on, his role will remain within the boundaries of his fatherly role, and that alone. My father will continue to travel with me and be there to support me and provide assistance off the field, as I have always wanted him to.
"I have trusted my father with the coaching role for so many years, and I consider our partnership a success. I'm not sure who will take over, and I'm not in a position to decide yet. What I do know is that it's time to let this chapter and this phase close, and try to write a new one.
"We've both agreed on that, and hopefully we can focus on our human side first, and then the rest. Accepting my mistakes and trying to correct my path is part of my journey as an athlete, and I assure you that I will continue to work hard to improve myself, both on and off the court. I hope this experience is a lesson for me, and for everyone who is struggling to find the right balance in their lives."