Tsitsipas: "I have wasted time, I should have hired Ivanisevic years earlier"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 30 Jun 2025 | 09.08

Stefanos Tsitsipas talks about Ivanisevic. Photo: gettyimages

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Better late than never. With that mindset, Stefanos Tsitsipas faces the challenge of being coached by Goran Ivanisevic in an exciting new phase in his professional life. At only 26 years old, the Greek seems destined to see his best times gone due to an inexorable decline that the Croatian aims to halt abruptly. At Wimbledon 2025, he spoke about their relationship.

Stefanos Tsitsipas is known for sharing profound reflections every time he speaks with the media, but he has taken it a step further in the lead-up to Wimbledon 2025, analyzing in detail the reasons why he started working with Goran Ivanisevic and how far this adventure with the Croatian can take him. It seems the Greek player may have hit rock bottom and is now taking small steps towards a sporting resurrection that every tennis enthusiast desires.

- Veiled criticism of his father and the importance of Ivanisevic

"I was clear that at this point in my career, I needed a coach who had competed at the highest level and knew exactly what thoughts were going through my mind. I thought it would be challenging to start working with him after so many years without an external voice in my team, but we have been very honest with each other. I am completely open to criticism, no matter how harsh. I want to hear all the truths he has to tell me; I have an open mind to explore my game," commented the Greek player.

It seems evident that improvement can only be based on sincerity. "Goran never lies. From day one, he told me things as he saw them, did not sugarcoat the story. I do not want someone who seeks to please me, who does not confuse me, provides simple information without overwhelming me or making me angry. He is not my father," stated the Greek player in what can be interpreted as a severe criticism of his father, from whom he has distanced himself professionally.

"Goran and I aspire to achieve great things together. I know I am not perfect, but he is helping me see why things have not been working for a while and what I can do to improve. I should have hired him three or four years ago; I feel like I have wasted time sticking to the same methods, not evolving as a player. The work we are doing will soon start to bear fruit; we do not have specific expectations. I know he respects me, values me, and cares about what I do; I see it in his eyes and how he speaks to me," he argued.

- Stress and anxiety issues

"For the past two years, I have felt a lot of stress; I have not been myself on the court. I am starting to become aware of how difficult my mental state has been. I have to learn to manage stress better, focus on myself, and not let anything distract me. I am working a lot with Goran to discover how to regain my self-esteem, use the playing patterns that work for me, and incorporate tactical variations," said the Greek player.

When asked about the reasons for his stress, Tsitsipas is straightforward. "A tennis player's life can be very chaotic, constantly traveling around the world. After several years of doing this, it is normal to reach a point of exhaustion; you get bored. I believe I have been one of the players who have played the most matches and tournaments in the last three or four years. You have to find a balance; you cannot have it all in this life," he explained before criticizing his father again.

"I was not at peace with myself, always pursuing things, and when it's over, you feel like it wasn't worth it. Being surrounded by people who demand too much from you and feeling responsible for them creates internal stress that accumulates every week. I have been helped by a sports psychologist for a while, trying to find solutions, to clear my mind with deep conversations with someone who can give me good tools to improve," said Stefanos Tsitsipas, who wants to see signs of his improvement reflected in his journey at Wimbledon 2025.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tsitsipas: "He perdido el tiempo, debería haber contratado a Ivanisevic años antes"