Jose Morón
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9 Aug 2024 | 18.05
Just a year ago, Stefanos Tsitsipas proudly proclaimed that his father was “the best coach he could have.” He described him as a student of the sport who had helped him develop great coaching abilities despite not being a top tennis player himself. Today, on August 9, he officially announced the separation of paths with his father. The reason behind this father-son relationship ending does not stem from events of the past twelve months but goes back further.
“Go to hell! Go to hell! Go to hell!”, Stefanos shouted at Apostolos during his Montreal debut match against Nishikori on Thursday, August 8. Not only did he tell his father to leave three times, but he also dismissed him after the match. The issue: a string change that displeased the Greek player.
“I've been complaining about this to my coach for four or five days, which is why I argued with him during the match. I need and deserve a coach who listens to me and pays attention to my feedback. My father has not been very smart in handling this situation, and this is not the first time. I am very disappointed in him,” Stefanos venomously expressed to reporters, still heated. The turmoil had begun.
Tsitsipas' Clear Decline
When he burst onto the scene, the Greek player was a joy to watch. Not just for the aesthetics of his game, but for his style—a blend of offensive and baseline construction tennis. Defeating Federer in their first encounter in Australia, staging a remarkable comeback from 0-2 down against Nadal in a Grand Slam (a feat achieved only by him and Fognini), Tsitsipas seemed poised to win a major title. It appeared to be just a matter of time.
Claiming a couple of Masters 1000 titles along the way, as well as the ATP Finals and reaching Grand Slam finals, the Greek player was nearing his dream. His issues began surfacing in 2022 with a noticeable decline in his game. Except for occasional peaks, he clearly lost the freshness he had when he entered the circuit and seemed stuck when facing the elite. In 2023, this decline steepened. In 2024, everyone knows what happened.
The reasons behind this decline could be numerous. Apart from off-court matters, it was evident that things within his team were not going well. From an external perspective, the environment didn't seem conducive. Trying to bring in external voices like Enqvist or Philippoussis, unsuccessfully, only added to the turmoil. His parents engaged in arguments during matches, shouting at each other in the stands, with Stefanos hitting shots towards his box to silence them once and for all. If this behavior was visible on the court for all to see, imagine what it must have been like behind closed doors when no one was watching.
Despite moving within the Top 5 in the last two years and clinching a couple of titles, the Greek player was on a downward spiral. Once he failed to defend those results, his ranking plummeted, and he leaves Canada as the 11th-ranked player in the world. Talent-wise, he should be a fixture in the Top 10 throughout the year.
“The team environment no longer matches my energy,” communicated Christos Fiotakis, Tsitsipas' former physical trainer, who left the team in discontent last month. “Honestly, I don't think Stefanos' main focus right now is playing tennis, reaching World No. 1, or winning Grand Slams. I am not happy with his work ethic,” adding more gloom to Tsitsipas's current situation.
An Urgent Need for Change
Stefanos is not going through anything different from many other players in recent decades who were guided by their parents. While it may have been suitable for an initial phase with a new player brimming with ambition, to rise, maintain their position at the top, achieve new milestones, or remain competitive against the best players in the world, external assistance with different knowledge and experiences is required. For him, that transition period happened a couple of seasons ago.
Undoubtedly, a significant part of Tsitsipas as a player owes to his father, and surely, it was excruciating for him to make the decision to part ways, but it was necessary for him. Breaking the chains tying him to what he knew may be challenging, but for Stefanos, a world of possibilities awaits beyond.
“I prefer to keep my father in the role of a father. Nothing more. It's time to close this chapter and start a new one,” Stefanos wrote, officially announcing his split from his father, confirming that he will travel alone for now, seeking a new coach. However, his father, Apostolos, will continue to accompany him without influencing his tennis. At least, that's what he stated in the announcement.
From my humble perspective, this change comes a couple of years late. I commend his courage to take this step because, as mentioned earlier, it surely was not easy, but it was necessary for Stefanos' career. There are many aspects of his game to improve, starting from his backhand, which is currently a significant weakness, to his return game and clearly defining his style of play for maximum exploitation.
Embracing independence and exploring new possibilities, Tsitsipas now has one crucial task ahead. Simple but tremendously significant—he must choose his next coach wisely. He should take all the time he needs but avoid rushing. One misstep could be detrimental to his confidence and game. And the worst scenario: he might consider reconciling with his father, as he has done in the past. The following months will reveal the moves made by the Greek player. We wait with anticipation.
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Era hora de decirse adiós
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