Stefanos Tsitsipas hinted on Thursday of a possible coaching split with father Apostolos after the Greek crashed out in the second round of the Montreal Masters.
Should the world No. 11 and two-time Grand Slam finalist make a change, it won’t be the first for the 25-year-old, who seems to have a love-hate relationship with his tennis parent.
In late 2022, Tsitsips took Greek-Australian former US Open finalist Mark Philippoussis onto his team, with that coaching relationship lasting until spring a year ago when Apostolos came back into the frame.
It now looks like another family feud, tennis-style, could be brewing.
Tsitsipas was annoyed after losing in Montreal 6-4, 6-4 to Japan’s Kei Nishikori and sounded determined to make some changes in his staff.
“Masters 1000 matches are important, I need a coach who listens to me as a player.
“My father has not been very smart and handling some situations, in trying to read what is happening on the court.”
Apostolos Tsitsipas has a reputation for badgering his player between nearly every point and was called out for then-illegal coaching from the player box before the practice was recently permitted.
“It’s been a poor performance from my father, and it’s not the first time, the player said. “I’m disappointed with him,
“The most important thing is to have good direct feedback, the coach needs to listen.
“The player is the one holding the racquet.
“I have power here to some degree but it should be a collaborative effort on both sides, for me to develop my tennis.”
