Tsitsipas Ends Coaching Relationship with Father, Begins Trial with Ivanisevic
Stefanos Tsitsipas has officially split with his longtime coach and father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, and will begin working with Goran Ivanisevic the former coach of Novak Djokovic on a trial basis starting at the Halle Open in Germany. The Greek tennis star shared that while the decision was tough, he believes it’s a necessary move to revive and elevate his career.
Ivanisevic, who played a key role in Djokovic’s dominance over a six-year span, brings a wealth of experience and insight. He now faces the challenge of helping Tsitsipas, whose form has dipped in recent seasons. That decline was highlighted by a disappointing second-round exit at the French Open to qualifier Matteo Gigante.
Ranked No. 26 in the world, Tsitsipas reflected candidly on the emotional weight of stepping away from his father as coach. During an appearance on The Changeover Podcast, he explained that their close personal bond had begun to clash with the demands of professional coaching, creating tension.
“There came a point when tennis started to interfere with our relationship,” Tsitsipas said. “As hard as it is to admit, it became toxic. I felt like he was chasing success harder than I was, and that created pressure. That’s where the toxicity came from.”
Following their split earlier in 2024, Tsitsipas briefly trained with Dimitris Chatzinikolaou, a coach with Davis Cup credentials. Despite the shift in his coaching setup, Tsitsipas said that stepping away has actually improved his relationship with his father. While Apostolos now has less involvement in the inner circle, Stefanos emphasized that their personal bond remains strong.
Hopes for a New Chapter with Ivanisevic
In the same interview, Tsitsipas expressed optimism about working with Ivanisevic, a Hall of Famer known for his aggressive style and strategic mind. However, Tsitsipas acknowledged that he’s not expecting immediate results.
“This isn’t about winning titles right away,” he said. “It’s more about the long-term process learning, growing, and seeing steady improvement. That’s my focus.”
He added that he deeply respects the experience Ivanisevic brings and is eager to begin training under his guidance.
The trial partnership comes at a critical moment in Tsitsipas’s career, as he looks to regain his form and confidence. With Ivanisevic in his corner, he hopes to retool his game and begin a more consistent climb back up the ATP rankings.
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