Stefanos Tsitsipas splits with father Apostolos as coach after ugly Canadian Open spat: "My behavior was unacceptable... I lost control"
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed that he will no longer be coached by his father, Apostolos. This decision follows his unexpected second-round exit at the Canadian Open, after which he publicly voiced his dissatisfaction with his coaching team.
Tsitsipas and his Apostolos, had a tense exchange during the Greek's match against Kei Nishikori in Montreal on August 8, which he lost 4-6, 4-6. Afterwards, the 25-year-old told the media that he deserves a coach who pays more attention to his "feedback," hinting at his dissatisfaction with his father's coaching.
Just hours after the match, Stefanos Tsitsipas took to X to announce that he had relieved Apostolos of his coaching duties, adding that he prefers his father to focus solely on his role as a father.
"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my collaboration with my father as a coach has come to an end. I prefer to keep my father in his role as a father, and only as a father," he wrote (translated from Greek).
Tsitsipas then apologized for his behavior towards Apostolos during his match against Nishikori, explaining that he had no intention of acting that way but could no longer contain his frustration. He admitted that he burst out after witnessing what he described as his father's "errors."
"In that moment of frustration, there were many mistakes and errors on the part of my coach and father," Tsitsipas wrote. "As an introvert, I tend to hold in my emotions and build them up until I reach a bursting point. I consider myself patient, so the fact that I reacted this way left me shocked."
"My behavior on the pitch was unacceptable, and I feel disappointed that I got to a point where I showed a dark side of myself. When I feel disrespected, judged, or emotionally attacked, I tend to lose control of what comes out of my mouth, which goes against my values as a human being," he added.
Stefanos Tsitsipas: "I'm not sure who will take my father's place, and I'm not in a position to decide yet"
In his detailed post on X, Stefanos Tsitsipas acknowledged that his coaching partnership with his father, Apostolos, had been "successful," and he isn't yet sure who will take over the role. He also mentioned that he's ready to close this chapter and look forward to a new beginning.
"I have trusted my father with the coaching role for so many years, and I consider our partnership to be successful," Tsitsipas wrote. "I'm not sure who will take his place, and I'm not in a position to decide yet. What I do know is that it is time to let this chapter and this phase close, and try to write a new one."
The two-time Grand Slam finalist also noted that his father will continue to travel with him and provide support off the field:
"My father will continue to travel with me and be there to support me and provide assistance off the field, as I have always wanted."
Stefanos Tsitsipas and his father faced a similar situation last year when they briefly parted ways before reuniting in October. During that time, former tennis pro Mark Philippoussis mentored the World No. 11.