‘Goodbye Dad?’ Stefanos Tsitsipas set to welcome a new head coach


‘Goodbye Dad?’ Stefanos Tsitsipas set to welcome a new head coach

Stefanos Tsitsipas and father Apostolos Tsitsipas

World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas had a good time Down Under this year. After making his season debut at the 2022 ATP Cup and picking up trouble in his elbow after his recent surgery, the Greek No. 1 made a fantastic return at Melbourne Park for the 2022 Australian Open where he reached the semi-finals of the Grand Slam for the second year running.

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After a straight-set win to start his campaign at the Grand Slam this year, Stef played back-to-back 4-setters before being taken to 5-sets by Taylor Fritz in the 4th round. Stef made easy work of Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals and was up against World No. 2 and the top-seed Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals but the Russian prevailed in a heated match that saw Medvedev call the chair umpire ‘stupid and bad‘.

Medvedev’s rant on the chair umpire was over the Russian asking the umpire to impose a penalty on Stefanos as his father and coach Apostolos was talking to Medvedev in between the serves and trying to distract him which eventually led to Medvedev dropping the second set. The umpires later conducted a sting operation and caught his father coaching and this was the second time Tsisipas was handed a fine for on-field coaching.

As Stef now prepares to return to the Tour at the 2022 Rotterdam Open where he is the top seed after Medvedev chose to withdraw from the competition, reports have suggested that a new head coach has been brought in by the 23-year old. Stef was seen practising under former World No. 4 and Australian Open runner-up Thomas Enqvist who looks to be the person replacing Apostolos.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thomas Enqvist share a good bond

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thomas Enqvisty
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Thomas Enqvisty pictured during the Greek’s practice at the Rotterdam Open

Enqvist is the vice-captain of Team Europe in the Laver Cup since the tournament began. With Stef also a part of the tournament for multiple occasions now, the pair have formed a good bond and share a good rapport especially after the 2021 Laver Cup in Boston.

An official announcement should further clear up things whether it is a temporary arrangement or a long term agreement between the two. Given Apostolos has remained a coach of Stef since he picked up a racquet, what new role will Tsitsipas Sr. will carry forward in his son’s professional career.

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