Serena Williams’ Coach Backs Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Decision to Split With Dad After Swiss Open Win

Stefanos Tsitsipas finally ended his title drought. In the recently concluded Swiss Open Gstaad, the Greek ace defeated Raphael Collignon to win his first title of the season.

It was, in fact, his first title since the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships. Tsitsipas won just one match in straight sets in the tournament, and it was against his first-round opponent Ignacio Buse.

The Swiss Open Gstaad was the first tournament he played after his Wimbledon exit. Tsitsipas, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, lost in straight sets to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the second round.

Ahead of Wimbledon, Tsitsipas ended his professional relationship with his dad, Apostolos Tsitsipas, and added coach Thomas Perrin from the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy to his team. Tsitsipas sacked his father as his coach following inconsistent results, because of which he was even on the verge of dropping out of the top 100.

Tsitsipas felt he was getting too comfortable when his father was by his side. He said that the older he gets, the tougher he finds it to maintain a professional relationship with Apostolos. Serena Williams‘ coach Rennae Stubbs backed his decision to part ways with his dad.

Some would say his dad’s gotten him here and there, and I am like, but the problem is Stef loses his [expletive] on the court, and half the time it’s not even at his tennis, it’s at his dad, and his dad is yelping at him from the sideline… that is so negative. I know because I was told what he was saying at times by somebody who speaks Greek. So maybe you need someone out there who is making you feel good, and half the time, that’s what coaches do.

Rennae Stubbs said on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast

Tsitsipas often lost his cool at his father and even hurled insults at him. Despite all of these things, Tsitsipas said he loves Apostolos as his dad.

You need to look up and see a coach who believes in you, who thinks that you can still win, and not someone who is going to yelp negative [expletive] at you that makes you feel terrible on the court. Clearly that is finally working for Stef, and it’s nice to see him back.

Rennae Stubbs added

Tsitsipas also reached his first semifinal of the season in the Swiss city. He won the ATP 250 tournament for the first time in his career.

Stefanos Tsitsipas shares realistic goal after Gstaad win

Stefanos Tsitsipas, a former World No.3, is now on the verge of entering the top 50 once again. At present, he stands in the 51st position. At the press conference after his Gstaad win, Tsitsipas said his goal for the rest of the season is to beat at least three top 10 players.

I want to do more. I want to push my body to the limit. I want to defeat at least three top 10 players this year, and win an ATP 500 tournament. But my first goal would probably be to get back among the top 50. I would like to return to that level.

The 27-year-old will next be competing at the Canadian Open, the main draw of which is set to start on August 2. He has made one final in the tournament. Back in 2018, he reached his career’s second singles final at the Canadian Open but couldn’t end it in his favor, losing it to Rafael Nadal.

Since reaching his second semifinal in the tournament in 2021, Tsitsipas has suffered four back-to-back second-round exits. This year in the Masters 1000s, he has made just one fourth round (in Madrid).

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