Stefanos Tsitsipas Thanks Serena Williams’ Former Coach for Bringing ‘Structure’ to His Life: “I’ve Become a Morning Person”

Stefanos Tsitsipas is now working with Thomas Perrin and Patrick Mouratoglou, also Serena Williams‘ former coach. Before adding them to his team, Tsitsipas parted ways with his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, as his coach.

The Almaty Open ended on October 25th. Daniil Medvedev defended his title by defeating Nikoloz Basilashvili. It’s the Georgian ace who ended Tsitsipas’ run in the tournament, defeating him in three sets in the semifinal. In a press conference in Almaty, Tsitsipas praised his team for adding structure to his life.

So it’s very good to have a structure like that in my life. I’ve become a morning person, in fact, in the last couple of months. And that was not the case with me, maybe not my whole career. I used to sleep a little bit later, not because I partied or anything, it’s just like all my creativity and all my sort of free-roaming mind came out later at night, and I’ve just become a more disciplined version of myself.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said (H/T: The Tennis Gazette)

Tsitsipas will next be seen in action at the Swiss Indoors. He will lock horns with Taylor Fritz in the opening round. The Greek ace holds a 5-2 head-to-head lead over the 2024 US Open runner-up and won their last two meetings at the United Cup and in the third round of the Shanghai Masters this year.

That’s what I’ve observed over the last couple of months. That’s what I’ve seen through my routines and the way I approach the game, the way I approach my off-court activities as well. There’s much more structure in my mind, and there’s also much more discipline and simplicity in the ways I go about my business.

Stefanos Tsitsipas added

Tsitsipas has so far won just one title this season. He ended his title drought by beating Raphael Collignon in the Swiss Open Gstaad. It was his first title since the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships.

Stefanos Tsitsipas says tennis needs more personalities like Gael Monfils

Gael Monfils ended his career on October 5 following his separation from Elina Svitolina. Their divorce news dominated headlines, with not just fans but former and fellow players also joining the conversation because Monfils was scheduled to play his career’s final tournament at the Paris Masters, set to start on November 2.

When Tsitsipas was asked about Monfils’ retirement at a press conference in Almaty, he called the Frenchman one of his best friends on the tour.

An absolutely lovely soul. I’m actually quite sad that tennis is going to lose a person like that. You don’t find players on tour like him. He just has this charisma about him that’s very difficult to find. […] He is as respected as someone who has won multiple Grand Slams. Tennis needs more personalities like this.

Stefanos Tsitsipas said (Tenniswatcher.com)

Monfils played his career’s final match against Learner Tien in the second round of the US Open. Before the Paris Masters, he had also planned to play the Lyon Open, but he withdrew due to “personal reasons”.

Svitolina first withdrew from the Ningbo Open. But following her divorce announcement, she pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open. She was last seen in action in the quarterfinals of the Wuhan Open, where eventual runner-up Sonay Kartal beat her in three sets.

Monfils won his career’s final trophy at the 2025 ASB Classic. Svitolina has played three finals this year, winning the ASB Classic and the Italian Open by beating Wang Xinyu and Coco Gauff, respectively. Jessica Pegula denied her the title at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

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