Stefanos Tsitsipas has confirmed he is no longer working with coach Goran Ivanisevic following a brief collaboration.
The world No.29 appointed Ivaisevic to his team just two months ago but experienced a poor grass season in which he won only one out of three matches played. Although he was forced to retire from his first round match at Wimbledon due to injury. Tsitsipas has struggled to find consistency on the Tour this season and has failed to win back-to-back matches at his last five tournaments played.
Ivanisevic’s departure comes after the Croat gave a blunt verdict on the Greek’s current form, which he described as a ‘disaster’ during an interview. The former Wimbledon champion has previously coached Novak Djokovic for nearly five years, from 2019 to 2024. He has also worked with Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic and very briefly with Elena Rybakina.
“I told him not to play tennis right now. He needs to fix his back and get physically fit because physically — he’s a disaster,” Ivanisevic said of Tsitsipas during an interview with Clay magazine.
“I can’t understand how a player of his level can be so unfit. After that, he can think about playing tennis again.
“There are things I can explain to him and connect with him because I felt that way too when I fell to 128 in the world. He’s 26th — that’s a big difference. But I didn’t have off-court issues, I made my own problems.”
Tsitsipas hasn’t addressed this criticism publicly and did not indicate in his statement that the comments have influenced his decision to end their partnership.
“Working with Goran was a brief but intense experience and a truly valuable chapter in my journey,” Tsitsipas wrote on social media.
“I’m thankful for the time, effort and energy he dedicated to me and my team. As we are now following our separate ways, I have only respect for Goran — not just for what he’s achieved in tennis, but also for who he is as a person.
“I wish him nothing but the very best moving forward.”
Marcos Baghdatis, who was a role model for Tsitsipas growing up, recently weighed in on Ivanisevic’s assessment of the Greek during an interview with Ubitennis. The Cypriot states he wouldn’t have made such comments publicly if he were coaching, but added that the majority of what was said is likely right because he regards Ivanisevic as “a great guy, who says things as they are and as he sees them.”
Tsitsipas will be hoping to regain his form at the Canadian Masters, Cincinnati Masters and US Open, where he could gain some valuable ranking points. Last year, he only won one match across those three tournaments.
Tsitsipas will now be coached by his father Apostolos following the departure of Ivanisevic.
