Things didn’t quite work out for Stefanos Tsitsipas and Goran Ivanisevic as their partnership was short-lived.
Having struggled on the grass for several years, Tsitsipas hired Goran Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion, to his team in a bid to gain an advantage.
However, after disappointing results in Halle and at Wimbledon, Ivanisevic and Tsitsipas split.
Their relationship will unfortunately be best remembered for Ivanisevic’s controversial comments about Tsitsipas, where he called him the most ‘underprepared’ player he’d seen.
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
Following their split, Tsitsipas rehired his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, as his coach, having let him go the previous year.
Now the dust has settled on his split with Ivanisevic, Tsitsipas has given his honest verdict on the Croat, as he looks to move on from their brief partnership.
Stefanos Tsitsipas says Goran Ivanisevic is a ‘great coach’ but highlights what was missing
During his pre-Cincinnati Open press conference, Tsitsipas reflected on his time working with Ivanisevic.
“Goran [Ivanisevic] is a great coach. A fantastic person, we spent three or four wonderful weeks together,” he said.
“He has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game.”
Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images
The world number 29 did, however, admit that working with Ivanisevic made him realize it was time to bring his father back into the fold.
“He made me understand that it’s time to bring Apostolos [Tsitsipas] back. That’s what I realized throughout this process,” said Tsitsipas.
“I was supported by the people I chose to have around me. But there was a big element missing from the player-coach relationship.
“I understood this more when I started working with Goran Ivanisevic. That was the turning point when I realized that maybe it was time to give my father another chance. To bring him back to me.”
Tsitsipas won just one match alongside Ivanisevic, as their partnership ended upon the conclusion of the grass-court season.
MatchOpponentResultScore2025 Wimbledon – 1RValentin RoyerLoss3-6, 2-6 (RET)2025 Halle Open – 2RAlex MichelsenLoss6-7, 5-72025 Halle Open – 1RLuciano DarderiWin6-4, 3-6, 7-6Stefanos Tsitsipas’ record with Goran Ivanisevic
He then lost his opening match in Toronto, 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, to Australia’s Christopher O’Connell, as he now sets his sights on a better showing at the Cincinnati Open.
Travelling to Ohio, Tsitsipas is hopeful that things will work out with his father, as he shares the improvements he’s already seen in him as a coach since they recently reunited.
‘We don’t yell at each other like we used to’ – Stefanos Tsitsipas on relationship with his father
Tsitsipas and his father split after the Canadian Open last year as tensions boiled over between the pair.
Speaking in Cincinnati, Tsitsipas suggested what he believes his father realized during their time apart.
“I think not having me in his life shook him a lot. It made him realize a lot of things,” he said.
“What he was missing and what was also part of his identity. Because a big part of his identity was being with me and living this dream of the tennis life.”
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
The Greek star proceeded to share how his father has changed since then, outlining the improvements he has seen since their new coaching relationship began.
“I feel like he’s really learned his lesson,” said Tsitsipas.
“He’s learned to maybe put me first with his ideas and beliefs. I think he values player feedback a lot more than he did back then.
“Time will tell.
“I hope the relationship continues like this because so far we haven’t had any problems.”
“We know when to pick our battles. We don’t yell at each other like we used to. I want to work with him until the last day I play tennis.
“I don’t want him to be out of the picture. I want him to be there as a coach. It’s up to him to make it happen. It’s up to him to want to work with me in the best way possible and be a listener.
“Not just monologues. I don’t need monologues. I need someone who can listen.”
Searching for his first win in 54 days, and his first with his father back in his corner, Tsitsipas will begin his Cincinnati Open campaign against Fabian Marozsan on Saturday, August 9.