They say that familial bonds run deep. In the case of Stefanos Tsitsipas, they run long too. Like many of his peers, such as Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud, who are or have been coached by family members, the world No. 5 Greek started his career under the tutelage of his father.
Apostolos Tsitsipas was an amateur tennis player in his twenties and has been omnipresent in Tsitsipas’ coaching box during matches, often sharing tips and lessons that caught the ire of umpires before the rule was changed. He has been traveling with his son on tennis tours since 2011.
Stefanos Tsitsipas fires his coaching staff to re-hire his dad
Moving on from his dad to supposedly more serious coaching, Stefanos Tsitsipas rehired ex-Wimbledon finalist Mark Philippoussis as his coach in 2023. The partnership seemed like it was heading in the right direction before Tsitsipas fired Mark as coach after his US Open debacle.
“I felt like I was out of rhythm. My partnership with Mark is over,” Tsitsipas said.
Tsitsipas, who recently donated €100,000 to flood victims in Greece, found himself struggling as he succumbed to a five-set loss to qualifier Dominic Stricker in the second round of the 2023 US Open. The grueling 7-5, 6-7 (2), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-3 loss was the final nail in the coffin for Tsitsipas’ coaching dilemma, as he fired the former world no. 8 Philippoussis and rehired his dad as coach.
“My dad has always been next to me. Even when he was not there and people didn’t see him he was always there by my side digitally.”, Tsitsipas added.
The whole situation has unfolded as a form of career crisis for Tsitsipas in the eyes of his ardent fans. As a famous tennis writer wrote, Tsitsipas’ career was at a crossroads. Nevertheless, the charitable Greek has said that he is looking at his dad as a long-term coach and that he would not make changes once again.
Stefanos Tsitsipas explains his relationship with his dad
As with Rafael Nadal’s early childhood, when his uncle Toni coached him personally and eventually professionally, Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a close tennis relationship with his dad. Tennis runs in the Tsitsipas family, and the young champion might feel thankful to his family for his success as an elite athlete.
“He’s here to stay. I have no intention of ever changing my dad or pushing him away. People are always going to try & create rumors or try to destroy what you have with someone who’s really close to you in any way or form. He’s someone who cannot be excluded.”, Tsitsipas said.
Stefanos’ dad has seen the highs and lows of his career, and with him currently going through a lull in terms of achievements, the 25-year-old feels like his dad is the right person to get him back on track and possibly relive the glory days of ATP tour successes from his early days.
The pair will have to rework techniques and fine-tune certain skills in order to effectively rebound in the 2024 season.
What are your opinions on Tsitsipas’s U-turn of rehiring his dad? Will the older Tsitsipas help his son grow into a successful player? Let us know in the comments section below.
