Stefanos Tsitsipas parts ways with father, hires new coach ahead of Cincinnati Open

Greece’s tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has hired a coach to replace his father. The 26-year-old is often regarded as one of the most talented players in men’s tennis but has failed to deliver consistent performances in the recent past.

Tsitsipas has recently decided to part ways with his father as a coach after bust-up during the Canadian Open. As per the latest report, the world number 11 has decided to work with Dimitris Hadjinikolau. The two have previously worked together during the Davis Cup, where Hadjinikolau was the head coach, and the report stated that he will now consistently work with the Athens-born star.

The Tennis Gazette website reported that Chatzinikolaou Tennis Academy is owned by Hadjinikolau, where Tsitsipas’ younger brother Petros has worked in the past. The former world number three is going through a mixed campaign. His best this year came during the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he lifted the title after beating Norway’s Casper Ruud in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-4. He then played in the final of the Barcelona Open but lost to Ruud in the final with a score of 7-5, 6-3.

Out of all the Grand Slams, Tsitsipas had the best outing while playing at the French Open, where he was eventually knocked out after losing in the quarterfinal to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-4. His most recent appearance came during the Canadian Open, where he suffered a shocking defeat in the round of 32 clash to Japan’s Kei Nishikori in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Tsitsipas is now set to play in the Cincinnati Open, where his first-round opponent will be Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff. The clash will be played on Wednesday.

It will be 10th meeting between the two at the highest level. In the previous nine meetings, Tsitsipas has a slight edge with five wins and suffered four defeats in the process. Their most recent meeting was during the Halle Open earlier this year where Struff came out on top in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.