Prior to the French Open Stefanos Tsitsipas admitted that he was ‘struggling’ at one of the key build up tournaments but the issue wasn’t physical.
Taking to the courts at the Italian Open the tennis star suffered first round defeats in both the singles and doubles draws for the first time this season. Watching from the sidelines was his usual coaching team but with one key figure missing – his father Apostolos. It is unclear as to why Tsitsipas’ father wasn’t in Rome but it occurred shortly after the US Open where there was a minor outburst between the two. During his match against Borna Coric in New York, the Greek yelled at his father following a comment he heard from him.
Despite the minor blip between the two, they are back working together after reuniting at the German Open last week where Tsitsipas reached the final. Rome was the first tournament he played without his mentor at his side since he was a teenager.
“It was difficult not having my dad in Rome. Honestly, I was struggling a little bit. It was difficult, the separation, and not having him there,” he told reporters in Paris on Tuesday.
“I think it was the first time that my dad was absent from a match that I played since I was 12 or 13 when I first started travelling and playing.”
Apostolos’ journey into tennis is a unique one. Initially his go to sports was football, which he even briefly spent a stint with the national team, and basketball. It wasn’t until he went to university to study sports science when he started to venture into the world of tennis. Although he admits that he ‘doesn’t know’ why he decided to do so during an interview with atptour.com earlier this year.
“I felt like there was something missing, and I think that’s very valuable for a player to feel comfortable, having the right people around him,” Tsitsipas said of his father.
“I think I appreciate it and cherish that even more the fact that I have my dad next to me and the fact that he’s like my wing man, my right arm, helps me with everything and makes me feel important when I’m out on the court and in my daily life.”
New York wasn’t the first time the father-son relationship has hit a bumpy road with the two also locking horns at the ATP Cup back in January. At that event Tsitsipas unintentionally hit his father after smashing his racket on the ground. Something he later apologized for doing.
“My father serves, he’s like a Swiss knife. He has a lot of important roles around me. He knows me the best, and we share a great relationship,” he said. “I know I have been hard with him sometimes on the court, and I’m trying to change that. Some of my behaviour on the court has been a bit unacceptable, and I would totally agree with that. I’m trying to respect what he’s doing. I think he respects what I’m doing. Our relationship is very unique and special.”
Tsitsipas experienced a roller-coaster start to his French Open campaign after coming back from two sets down to see off Spain’s Jaume Munar 4-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. Something he had never previously done in his career. His next test will be Pablo Cuevas who defeated in straight sets last week in Germany.
