Where is Tsitsipas?

From a tennis player with great potential, Stefanos Tsitsipas is now having a career that is on the decline.

Tsitsipas' career is getting worse and worse - Photo: Reuters

At Wimbledon this year, Tsitsipas once again expressed his disappointment. In the first round, he withdrew after only 2 sets against Valentin Royer due to injury. At that time, he was also losing 3-6, 2-6. Since the beginning of 2025, Tsitsipas has not gone beyond the second round of a Grand Slam.

Persistent injuries have caused the Greek tennis player to decline significantly since last year. From being regularly in the world's top 10, he has now dropped to 26th place. For outsiders, they may sympathize with him.

But insiders - those who understand the issues outside the field - do not accept that. That is because recently, Tsitsipas' coach, Goran Ivanisevic, made surprising statements to criticize him after his defeat at Wimbledon.

"It's simple but not simple. I've talked to Tsitsipas many times. If he solves his problems off the tennis court, he will return to where he belongs, which is the top 10 in the world.

Tsitsipas wants it, but he doesn't do anything about it. He's always saying 'I want this, I want that', but nothing changes. I'm really shocked because I've never seen a player as unprepared as him. With that knee, to be honest, I'm probably stronger than him" - those are the sarcastic words that Mr. Ivanisevic told the press.

From a professional perspective, a coach should not publicly criticize an athlete in the media like that. But Ivanisevic won Wimbledon in 2001. He then spent many years coaching Novak Djokovic during his successful period before coming to Tsitsipas. So there must be a reason for what he said.

"What is the problem outside the tennis court?" Although Ivanisevic did not say, many people suspected that it was about the relationship between Tsitsipas and female tennis player Paula Badosa. They started dating in 2023, then broke up last year. And after being eliminated at Wimbledon, Tistsipas and Badosa both confirmed their breakup. Maybe having to deal with a broken relationship affected Tsitsipas's preparation, when his mentality lacked stability.

In the past, no one expected Tsitsipas to be able to usurp the "big three" of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer. Later, no one believed he would make history before the next generation like Alcaraz, Sinner.

But at least, with his talent, he deserves at least 1 Grand Slam. But in the past 2 years, the frequency of his appearances in major tournaments has been decreasing. The number of titles he has won is also insignificant, mainly from low-level tournaments ATP 250. And even his position in the top 10 is gone. And surely soon, if he does not change, no one will recognize Tsitsipas even though he is not yet 27 years old.

DUC KHUE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dau-roi-tsitsipas-20250705232016764.htm