Stefanos Tsitsipas has recently parted ways with his father, Apostolos, as his coach.
Despite a seemingly calm exterior, the relationship between Tsitsipas and his family was often fraught with tension. There were frequent arguments and public disputes that hinted at deeper issues. While everything appeared smooth, the harmony was missing .
The Greek player shocked everyone by dismissing Apostolos from his coaching team, yet his father still travels with him to events. But in New York, things were different; Apostolos wasn’t present at the US Open and had been absent for weeks.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇷 Stefanos Tsitsipas | 26 | 3,740 | 28 - 10 |
Family Dynamics and Career Impact:
Tsitsipas’s struggles continued on the court with another early exit from the US Open. He then revealed an injury that would keep him out of the Davis Cup. L’Equipe spoke to Jerome Bianchi about these family dynamics. According to Bianchi, their relationship was more harmful than beneficial.
This strained relationship even affected how other players viewed Tsitsipas on tour; some stopped practicing with him altogether. “Their relationship has not been sustainable for years,” said Bianchi.
Fans might think this change is long overdue given how things weren’t working out well for him lately.
One of ATP‘s most talented players seemed like a shadow of himself, rarely playing at his best. The physio mentioned that Stefanos had wanted to part ways with his father before but felt guilty due to his mother’s insistence on acknowledging Apostolos’s sacrifices. “Every time Stefanos wanted to break up with his father,” he said, “his mother ran and said, ‘You can’t do this to him; he dedicated his life to you’.”
This complicated situation persisted for years until Tsitsipas finally reached a breaking point recently. Bianchi wasn’t surprised by this move; he believes it follows a period of self-reflection by Stefanos.
Bianchi also thinks Tsitsipas can be the best in the world but hasn’t yet realized his potential fully. Reflecting on his career likely made Stefanos see that things hadn’t gone as planned and pushed him to make changes before it’s too late: “He realizes that he is getting on in age and that his career has not been what it should have been.”
What do you think about this big change?
