Tsitsipas Says He’s Done Working with His Father Apostolos, Again

Stefanos Tsitsipas and his father have parted ways before (see 2024) – but never like this. 

Greek journalist Vicky Georgatau reports that the former World No.3 has cut professional ties with his father Apostolos for good. 

“It will take him some time to accept it, as it did the last time we split,” Tsitsipas said at Wimbledon, according to Georgatau in comments published in English at Clay. “Back then I left a small window open. Now I believe he has a great deal to offer others — but to me, I think he’s already given everything he possibly could.” 

Tsitsipas, who will face France’s Hugo Gaston on Day 1, will potentially face Novak Djokovic in the second round. Ranked 88, the 27-year-old says he needs change in his team. 

“The older I get, the harder I find it to maintain a stable relationship with my father in a coaching context. I feel we’ve reached a point where I’m looking for something completely different. I could feel it in the day-to-day energy of our work together,” he said. 

Tsitsipas told Georgatau that he wants to start making his own decisions and following his own path. He is working with Thomas Perrin, a member of Patrick Mouratoglou’s coaching team, at Wimbledon. 

He has previously undergone brief partnerships with Goran Ivanisevic and Mark Philippoussis in the past, but always returned to working solely with his father. Time will tell if this split lasts, as family ties run strong in the Tsitisipas camp.

“It’s difficult because we’ve spent many years together on tour, but speaking about it now, I believe we won’t work together again in the future,” he told Clay.

A FIRST-ROUND WIN

Tsitsipas will likely get a chance to face Novak Djokovic in the second round after his 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 Day 1 win over Hugo Gaston.

“Today’s match was a little bit of a throwback mentally of how I started this journey playing at Wimbledon, playing at juniors, and trying to go far. I produced some really good tennis,” he said.

Tsitsipas will face the winner of Novak Djokovic’s first-round match with China’s Wu Yibing next.