World-renowned tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has subtly hinted at his contentious past with his father and former coach, Apostolos Tsitsipas, while praising his current mentor, Dimitris Chatzinikolaou.
Stefanos, a formidable player on the ATP tour, was recognized for the friction-filled dynamics with his father, who had served as his coach for a significant part of his career. Their professional relationship was marked by several public disagreements, culminating in a dramatic split last summer.
Known for his fiery temperament, the Greek star has had several public run-ins with his father. This included a notorious incident at the 2020 ATP Cup, where Stefanos was seen smashing a racket next to his dad, and another in the 2022 ATP Finals where he hit a ball in the direction of his team.
The turning point came at a tournament in Canada last year, where following a loss in his opening match, Tsitsipas publicly criticized his father for lacking intelligence. He voiced his disappointment in a rather severe rant. Although he later apologized for his outburst, he proceeded to terminate their professional association.
Since the split with his father, Stefanos has partnered with Dimitris Chatzinikolaou, and the collaboration appears to be paying dividends. Tsitsipas has achieved significant success under Chatzinikolaou’s guidance, including clinching his maiden ATP 500 title in Dubai and reclaiming a spot in the world’s top 10.
Chatzinikolaou’s coaching style seems to resonate with Tsitsipas, who recently expressed his contentment with the open communication and mutual respect that defines their relationship. He praised Chatzinikolaou for his receptive attitude and ability to adapt quickly – qualities that he subtly suggested were lacking in his previous coaches.
“I feel like [Chatzinikolaou] is open-minded and listens. I’ve had a few coaches who, I don’t feel, were as open-minded and adaptable,” Tsitsipas said. He further added that their relationship thrives on mutual feedback and humility, a dynamic that allows them to collaboratively work towards improvement.
The world No. 9 has candidly admitted the toll his tumultuous coaching relationship with his father took on their personal bond. Speaking on the Tennis Insider Podcast, hosted by WTA star Caroline Garcia, Tsitsipas expressed his desire for Apostolos to simply be his father, acknowledging that their professional association had muddled their personal relationship.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’s journey, from a tense coaching relationship with his father to a flourishing partnership with his new coach, reflects his evolution as a player and individual. His recent success under Chatzinikolaou’s guidance is a testament to the importance of a harmonious player-coach relationship in the highly competitive world of professional tennis.