Stefanos Tsitsipas just ended his partnership with Goran Ivanisevic after only a few weeks together. And honestly? It was pretty bizarre from the start.
The Greek star knows he’s not where he wants to be right now. He’s sitting at No. 29 in the world rankings, which is way below his usual top-10 standard.
Between 2019 and 2023, Tsitsipas always finished the season in the top six. That’s a pretty impressive streak.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stefanos Tsitsipas | 27 | 3,740 | 28 - 10 |
But this year’s been really tough for the 26-year-old. We’re already past the halfway point of the season, and he’s only managed 19 wins. Compare that to 2021 when he won 55 matches, or 2022 when he racked up 61 wins.
Those poor results got the former ATP Finals champion searching for a new coach who could help him get back to his best. He thought he’d found his answer when he hired Goran Ivanisevic.
Things Started Going Wrong at Wimbledon
The two started working together at this year’s Wimbledon. That didn’t go according to plan at all.
Tsitsipas had to retire in his first-round match against Valentin Royer. After that, he lost both matches at the Hopman Cup.
But their partnership made headlines for a completely different reason.
Shortly after they started working together, Ivanisevic publicly criticized his new student. He said he’d never seen a player in worse physical condition than the Greek star. Ouch.
That’s pretty harsh criticism to make public, especially when you’ve barely started working with someone.
Initially, it seemed like those comments wouldn’t break up their partnership. Even Patrick Mouratoglou criticized Ivanisevic for making those remarks public.
But clearly, the collaboration between Tsitsipas and Ivanisevic couldn’t get past that moment.
A Respectful Goodbye
Tsitsipas announced the split on his Instagram account. The three-time Monte-Carlo Masters champion didn’t mention the controversial comments, keeping things classy.
"Working with Goran Ivanisevic was a brief but intense experience and a truly valuable chapter in my journey. 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."
That’s a diplomatic way to handle an awkward situation.
What’s Next for Both Players
Tsitsipas is back to square one – searching for both his form and a new coach. He’s previously said he doesn’t want to work with his father anymore because he wants to keep those two parts of his life separate.
Up next, he’s scheduled to compete at the Canadian Open in Toronto and the Cincinnati Open. He should be seeded at both events before heading to New York for the US Open.
Those tournaments could be crucial for getting his confidence back.
Meanwhile, Ivanisevic finds himself in a pretty tricky spot. After working with 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic for years, he’s now joined two different players’ teams and lasted only a couple of weeks with both.
That’s not exactly the track record a top coach wants to have.
For Tsitsipas, the priority has to be finding stability. Whether that’s with a new coach or just getting back to basics, something needs to change if he wants to get back where he belongs in the rankings.
