Tsitsipas terminates coaching partnership with father Apostolos

The Greek announced the news following open criticism of his father’s approach in the wake of a disappointing early defeat in Montreal

Stefanos and Apostolos Tsitsipas Icon SMI / Panoramic

Jamie Malachy

August 9, 2024

Stefanos Tsitsipas has brought his career-long coaching partnership with his father, Apostolos, to an end.

The world No 11 made the announcement in a lengthy and heartfelt social media post, having publicly criticised Apostolos in the aftermath of a bruising second-round defeat to Kei Nishikori at the National Bank Open just yesterday.

It is the second time the father-son coaching team have parted ways, after a brief two-month spell in 2023 during which Tsitsipas worked under the tutelage of Mark Philippoussis before reuniting with Apostolos.

“It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my collaboration with my father as a coach has come to an end. I prefer to keep my father in his role as a father, and only as a father,” Tsitsipas wrote in a typically introspective social media message.

“Philosophy teaches us that wisdom comes through understanding our limits and acknowledging our mistakes,” he continued.

Σας ενημερώνω με βαριά καρδιά ότι η συνεργασία μου με τον πατέρα μου ως προπονητής έχει φτάσει στο τέλος της. Προτιμώ να κρατήσω τον πατέρα μου στον ρόλο του ως πατέρας, και μόνο ως πατέρας.

Η φιλοσοφία μας διδάσκει ότι η σοφία έρχεται μέσα από την κατανόηση των ορίων μας και…
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) August 9, 2024

Tsitsipas’ full social media post, originally written in Greek

“In my case, I realised that I was wrong to talk to my father the way I did. Tennis is not just a match, a hit or a performance of a few seconds. It is a long journey full of emotions, pressure and expectations.

“In that moment of frustration, there were many mistakes and errors on the part of my coach and father. As an introvert, I tend to hold in my emotions and build them up until I reach a bursting point. I consider myself patient, so the fact that I reacted this way left me shocked.

“My father has been trying for the last few years to train me, raise me the right way and provide me with knowledge and wisdom, both on and off the field. I thank him for that. I thank him for the sacrifices, pain and suffering he has endured to make this endeavour a success.

“I hope this experience is a lesson for me, and for everyone who struggles to find the right balance in their lives.”

Under his father’s guidance, Tsitsipas won 11 ATP titles, the most notable of which was the ATP Finals in 2019. He also reached two Grand Slam finals, one at Roland-Garros in 2021 and another at the Australian Open at the start of the 2023 season.

Even during these periods of success, however, acrimony between father and son remained a frequent theme. Tsitsipas would often vent his frustrations at Apostolos throughout matches, while reports of heated disagreements behind closed doors were a regular occurrence.

After Tsitsipas’ latest tirade against his father in Montreal yesterday, it appears the damage is deemed considerable enough to warrant a change in the make-up of the Greek’s team, perhaps for the sake of their relationship as father and son as much as for the benefit of Tsistsipas’ career.