Goran Ivanisevic Breaks Silence After Split with Stefanos Tsitsipas: “I Didn’t Insult Him”

Stefanos Tsitsipas could re-hire his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, as his coach for the North American swing.

Goran Ivanisevic Breaks Silence After Split with Stefanos Tsitsipas: “I Didn’t Insult Him”

Goran Ivanisevic, Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via X/tHANOS Stathopoulos, Relevant Tennis)

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Goran Ivanisevic joined Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ team after the Roland Garros, where the latter succumbed to a four-set defeat in the second round against Matteo Gigante. Under the Croatian coach, Tsitsipas featured in just two tournaments- the Halle Open and Wimbledon.

Tsitsipas will next be playing the Canadian Open to kick-start his campaign on the North American swing. But ahead of the tournament, the tennis ace announced that he has ended the partnership with Ivanisevic.

Tsitispas, in Halle, lost to Alex Michelsen in his second match. At Wimbledon, his back issue forced him to hand the walkover to Valentin Royer after losing the first two sets. The 53-year-old had publicly criticized Tsitsipas, calling him an “unprepared” player and claiming that the Greek ace wants to achieve a lot but doesn’t do anything.

It was exaggerated, and I didn’t insult him…I told him all that, it’s not like I said it behind his back. Now it turns out that you’re not even allowed to say anything anymore. I said it honestly, to create an effect. That’s the way it is. Unfortunately, that’s how it is, everyone sees it. He feels it himself, and he knows it. If you’re not mentally, physically, mentally ready.

Goran Ivanisevic told HRT

After the split, SDNA published an interview where Tsitsipas said he wanted to work with the “right” people and not “dictators“ (though he didn’t say anything directly against Ivanisevic). Tsitsipas said he wants to be comfortable and wants to be in a friendly atmosphere.

Goran Ivanisevic says Stefanos Tsitsipas will be hiring his father once again as his coach

Stefanos Tsitsipas, during that interview with SDNA, said he had apologized to his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, for his past conduct. The 26-year-old had yelled at his father during his match against Kei Nishikori in Montreal last year and later criticized him publicly.

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Goran Ivanisevic
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Goran Ivanisevic (Image via X/Game, Set & Talk)

Tsitsipas hinted at re-hiring his father as his coach. Goran Ivanisevic, during an interview with The Athletic, confirmed the same.

We had a nice conversation yesterday. Nothing bad. He is going back to his father, back to his roots. He had his best results with his father; his father knows him the best, so I agree that this is the right decision. I hope he gets back where he belongs, and wish him all the best for the future.

This is the second time Ivanisevic split with a player this year after a short period of working together. Before Tsitsipas, Ivanisevic was working with Elena Rybakina, but the partnership ended after her Australian Open exit because of the controversy involving banned coach Stefano Vukov.

The last player with whom Ivanisevic had enjoyed a successful partnership was Novak Djokovic. The Serb has lifted 12 of his 24 Grand Slam titles under the tutelage of the former World No.2. Djokovic split with Ivanisevic in March last year and then hired his longtime rival Andy Murray in November, but the collaboration ended after six months.

Stefanos Tsitsipas will aim for his second title of the season in Montreal

Tsitsipas has lifted just one title this season- the Dubai Open. He beat Felix Auger-Aliassime to end his trophy drought, winning his first title since the Monte Carlo Masters last year.

Stefanos Tsitsipas 1
Stefanos Tsitsipas (Image via X/ESPN)

Since then, the former World No.3 has failed to progress beyond the quarterfinals in the next tournaments he played. Tsitsipas is not playing the Citi Open and his preparing for the Canadian Open, which is scheduled to start on July 27.

Tsitsipas was the runner-up in Montreal back in 2018, losing the match to 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. If he keeps producing mediocre performances, he will drop out of the top 30 for the first time since 2018.

Also read: Martina Navratilova Doffs Her Hat to Venus Williams for Silencing Critics at the Washington Open