Two months. That’s all it took for one in every of tennis’s most intriguing teaching partnerships to disintegrate.
Goran Ivanišević and Stefanos Tsitsipas have ended their collaboration, with the 2001 Wimbledon champion providing blunt insights into why their relationship couldn’t survive the strain of elite tennis.
Why Did Ivanišević Name Out Tsitsipas So Publicly?
The Croatian coach didn’t again down from the controversy surrounding his harsh evaluation of Tsitsipas’s preparation. Reviews surfaced that Ivanišević had known as the Greek participant a “catastrophe” by way of bodily readiness, feedback that sparked backlash throughout tennis circles.
Nonetheless, Ivanišević defended his method throughout his interview with Croatian broadcaster HRT. He insisted his phrases have been delivered face-to-face, not as backstabbing criticism.
“It was blown out of proportions, I didn’t insult him. I informed him all of that, it’s not like I used to be saying it behind his again. Now it looks as if you may’t say something anymore. I stated it truthfully, to get a response. That’s how this era is. Sadly, that’s how it’s, everybody sees it,” he informed HRT.
The previous Wimbledon champion believes powerful love stays important for participant growth. He defined that criticism serves as a catalyst for development moderately than destruction.
“He feels it too, and he is aware of. When you’re not mentally, bodily, and emotionally prepared, you don’t have any probability. I hope he’ll discover his path,” Ivanišević stated. His purpose was pushing Tsitsipas towards self-reflection and enchancment, not private assaults.
What Does Tsitsipas’s Return to His Father Imply?
Regardless of the general public pressure, each males ended their partnership with out animosity. Ivanišević revealed they spoke straight in regards to the break up, sustaining skilled respect all through the method.
“We spoke yesterday, no laborious emotions, we thanked one another,” he informed HRT.
The Croatian coach truly endorsed Tsitsipas’s choice to reunite along with his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, as his major coach. Ivanišević believes this family-based method gives the most effective path ahead for the struggling participant.
“He determined to attempt once more along with his father, and truthfully, I actually imagine this: the one one that can coach him is his dad. He performed his finest tennis with him, his dad is aware of him finest, this can be a household mission. It’s the most effective choice, I want him all the most effective, he’s too good of a participant to be the place he’s. And yesterday I informed him once more that nothing will change except he kinds some issues out in his head,” the Croatian stated, supporting Tsitsipas’s choice to coach once more along with his father.
Past technical instruction, Ivanišević emphasised that elite tennis calls for full psychological preparation. He pressured that Tsitsipas should obtain readiness throughout all dimensions to compete with the world’s finest gamers.
“Particularly mentally, to play for hours with the most effective, then you don’t have any probability of enjoying tennis. He wasn’t mentally able to play at Wimbledon, I hope he’ll discover his path. I want him all the most effective, we all know the outcomes he’s had, he hasn’t forgotten easy methods to play tennis.”
🎾 Goran Ivanišević spoke to HRT on the break up with #Tsitsipas:
“We spoke yesterday, no laborious emotions, we thanked one another. He determined to attempt once more along with his father, and truthfully, I actually imagine this – the one one that can coach him is his dad.
He performed his finest tennis…
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) July 24, 2025
The teaching change comes throughout a difficult interval for Tsitsipas. His 2025 marketing campaign has been marked by inconsistency and declining rankings. In June 2025, the Greek participant dropped out of the highest 20 for the primary time since 2018, a major fall from his earlier elite standing.
His season report stands at 19-13, along with his lone title coming on the Dubai Tennis Championships. Essentially the most regarding second arrived at Wimbledon, the place he retired within the first spherical in opposition to qualifier Valentin Royer, trailing 6-3, 6-2 as a result of a again subject.
