"Why would Stefanos Tsitsipas say this in public?" - Fans scandalized by Greek openly calling out father Apostolos after shock Canadian Open exit
Stefanos Tsitsipas lashing out at his father Apostolos after a shocking second-round defeat at the National Bank Open has shocked tennis fans. The Greek lost to Kei Nishikori 4-6, 4-6 in just an hour and 18 minutes bringing a shocking end to his run.
During the match, Stefanos Tsitsipas got into a heated argument with his father, who is also his coach, during which he even asked him to leave his player's box. In an interview after the match, the 25-year-old called out his father's coaching abilities stating that he wasn't capable of handling situations where he needed to give the player direct feedback.
“I need and I deserve a coach that listens to me and hears my feedback as a player. My father hasn't been very smart or very good at handling those situations, it's not the first time he has done that. I'm really disappointed at him. I really don't know right now if I'd consider any changes, but I'm really disappointed. The most important thing for a player is to have direct and good feedback from a coach."
Fans on X (Formerly Twitter) were stunned by Stefanos Tsitsipas calling his father out publicly, with one of them questioning his decision to do so.
“'I’m really disappointed in him' about his own father… come on, why would he say this in public?!"
Another fan mentioned how Agnieszka Radwanska had a strained relationship with her father, who was also her coach, and also called him out publicly. She later replaced him in 2011 and went on reach the World No. 2 and a Wimbledon final.
"The only shocking part about it is the fact it took him so long. Radwanska literally told her dad to „f**k off” in front of media and the rest is a history."
Here are some other reactions from the fans.
"Wow 😂 Even if he’s disappointed in his father, it’s pretty low to say it publicly. For shame, Stef," a fan opined.
"It’s more of an indictment on Tsitsipas that he’s kept his father in a job for this long… either way nobody is fixing his awful return game," a fan mentioned.
"I agree with Stef, I said that many years ago. I said that he needs to have a coach and not his father in his corner if he wants to win a GS. But I don't support him saying that publicly. He should discuss that with his father behind closed doors," a fan felt.
"And Badosa looks injured again and lost to Ostapenko. Dinner is gonna be fun!" a fan joked.
"The coach is not the one holding a racket" - Stefanos Tsitsipas talks about how a player-coach relationship should work
Continuing his thoughts on his relationship with his father Apostolos, Stefanos Tsitsipas also discussed how a player-coach relationship is a two-way work. He said that the coach wasn't the one holding the racket but it was the player who trying to execute a plan.
He said that both parties involved needed to put the work in together and understand the best way for the player to develop their tennis.
"The coach is not the one holding a racket. The player is the one trying to execute a game plan. It's a collaborative work that you put in together. It has to be reciprocal in order for me to try to develop my tennis. It's something I don't want to get stuck at that," Tsitsipas said.
Though Stefanos Tsitsipas has tried working with different coaches like Patrick Mouratoglou and Mark Philippossis, his father has always been a part of his team. Following his Canadian Open exit, the Greek is next scheduled to compete at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, where he reached the third round last year and the final in 2022.