Stefanos Tsitsipas fired his father in August. (Image: Getty)
Stefanos Tsitsipas has stressed that he is tired of addressing the decision to end his father’s role as his coach in August as he prepares for the . The world No. 11 has entered a year outside of the top six in the ATP rankings for the first time since 2019 after a disappointing last campaign.
His 2024 exploded at the National Bank Open in Montreal when he produced a wild outburst towards his father, Apostolos, during a second-round defeat to Kei Nishikori.
Tsitsipas made it clear that he had grown tired of his dad’s persistent shouts from his box and vowed to change coaches in the aftermath.
Shortly after, the 26-year-old cut ties, announcing the decision with an emotional social media post written in his native language.
It was the second time Tsitsipas had removed his father as his coach, having also made a change in 2023 when he hired former world No. 8 Mark Philippoussis to enter the role.
However, that partnership lasted just two months before Apostolos stepped back into the role until his repeated demise in August.
Tsitsipas starts his campaign against the USA’s Alex Michelsen on Monday, and he has shared his excitement about returning to what he considers his home Grand Slam.
Melbourne’s Greek community guarantees the Athens-born athlete strong support, and he has often responded, reaching three semi-finals and the final in 2023.
Stefanos Tsitsipas loves the Australian Open. (Image: Getty)
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But ahead of this year’s tournament, Tsitsipas shut down continued questions regarding his father’s dismissal with a passionate assessment of their relationship.
“Honestly, I don’t want to answer any more questions about my father. He has been an exceptional coach; I can only be grateful to him for what he did,” Tsitsipas explained.
“He is a great person; he sacrificed everything for a decade and for his entire life, always enduring a lot of stress.
“Coming from a small country like Greece, with no tennis tradition, I am proud of how he brought me to the top and how we resolved the crucial moments.
“Those moments shaped me as a player; they were the years when I showed my true potential. I still think he is one of the best coaches in the world.
“We have a great relationship, but now I just need to continue on my own to mature as an adult. Beyond that, he remains a fundamental person for me, both professionally and personally, I owe him everything.”
Tsitsipas lifted 11 tour-level titles alongside his father, including his debut ATP Finals in 2019, but he enters 2025 with a new approach.
He started the campaign by representing Greece at the United Cup in Perth, recording a 1-1 record in singles. Next up, the AO.