Goran Ivanisevic Reveals Why Stefanos Tsitsipas Partnership Failed: “He Has Mental Issues”

Goran Ivansievic is currently working with Arthur Fils, the 21-year-old Frenchman who recently played his career’s first Masters 1000 semifinal at the Miami Open and also reached this year’s Qatar Open, only to lose in straight sets to Carlos Alcaraz. Before joining Fils’ team, Ivanisevic had a brief partnership with Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The Greek ace added the Croatian coach to his team last year before the grass swing, but after his Wimbledon exit (he retired mid-match in the first round), the two split. Ivanisevic had publicly criticized Tsitsipas before the breakup, saying he lacked match preparedness. Tsitsipas also hit back.

But now, the two seem to have buried the hatchet. Ivanisevic, during his interview with Sportklub, revealed that he realized the partnership would not be working.

I knew after the second day of training. When he came to Zagreb to try rackets, I understood that it wouldn’t work out. In the end, I didn’t say anything bad; everything I stated was true and proved to be so. After Wimbledon, I advised him to take four months off because it wasn’t just a physical issue but also mental.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist was last seen in action at the Miami Open, where Fils knocked him out 6-0, 6-1 in the fourth round. Because of his slump in form, Tsitsipas, who last won a title at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime, currently stands in the 49th spot on the rankings table.

He remains a phenomenal player, he was and still is, but those are just details. In today’s tennis, you can’t compete without being mentally prepared. I had similar problems myself when I dropped to 128th place in the rankings. In any case, everything is fine. We met in Doha and greeted each other normally.

Goran Ivanisevic added

Next is the clay swing, where last year, Tsitsipas made the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open. Tsitsipas is a three-time champion in The Principality, winning in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

Goran Ivanisevic thinks Novak Djokovic still can win another Grand Slam title

Novak Djokovic played in the final of the Australian Open, and although he lost the title to World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz, he proved once again that in Grand Slam events, he still can challenge the Spaniard and Jannik Sinner. It’s the Italian whom Nole knocked out in the semifinal in five sets.

Djokovic was chasing his 25th Major. Half of his 24 Grand Slam titles were won under Goran Ivanisevic. The 54-year-old, during that aforementioned interview with Sportklub, was asked whether the 38-year-old still has it in him to win another Grand Slam title.

If I hadn’t worked with him, I might say no. But knowing him, “I can’t” or “impossible” aren’t in his vocabulary. Of course it’s possible. Many wonder where his motivation to keep competing comes from. I listen to certain so-called experts, and they constantly dismiss him. I don’t know if they really understand tennis. Djokovic plays because he loves to compete, to be on the court, and to win. He will always be among the best.

After the Melbourne Slam, Djokovic played in the Indian Wells, where his run was ended by defending champion Jack Draper. It’s uncertain where Djokovic will play next. Last year on the clay-swing, he suffered an opening-round exit at the Monte Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open.

But he ended his title drought by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the Geneva Open final. Later at the French Open, eventual runner-up Sinner clinched a straight-set win in the semifinals. The last time Djokovic won a title was the 2025 Hellenic Championships.

Also read: Coco Gauff Mentions the Olympian Who Inspired Her During Miami Open Run

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