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Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece looks on after defeating Talon Griekspoor of Netherlands in straight sets 6-2 7-6 6-3 in the round 3 match between Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and Talon Griekspoor of Netherlands Day 5 at the Australian Open Tennis 2023 at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia on 20 January 2023. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xPeterxDovganx 34781168

via Imago
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece looks on after defeating Talon Griekspoor of Netherlands in straight sets 6-2 7-6 6-3 in the round 3 match between Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece and Talon Griekspoor of Netherlands Day 5 at the Australian Open Tennis 2023 at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia on 20 January 2023. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xPeterxDovganx 34781168
In a slightly weird twist of fate, the tennis world has collided with the cringe-worthy realm of reality television. As Greek tennis sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas and newly appointed coach Mark Philippoussis embark on their journey, a long-forgotten chapter of Philippoussis’ past has resurfaced, much to the delight of the online world.
Fast forward to the present day, and Philippoussis plays a more serious role as Tsitsipas’ coach. The duo’s partnership is making waves in the tennis world, with the world number four already showcasing his talent with impressive victories.
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Stefanos Tsitsipas’ new coach’s funny past
Before coaching Tsitsipas, Philippoussis did a quirky reality TV show called “Age of Love” in 2007. The show wasn’t your typical fare. In this show, which would raise a few eyebrows today, Philippoussis explored the complexities of love across age groups. It suggested that Philippoussis selected his romantic preferences from two distinct groups: young ‘kittens’ in their twenties and mature ‘cougars’ in their forties.
A post on Twitter resurfaced talking about Philippoussis’ past TV stint, stating, “Since he’s Stef’s full time coach now, lemme bring up how in 2007 Mark Philippoussis hosted a dating show called “Age of Love” The premise was that he (30M) got to choose between two groups of women: Kittens (20s F) and Cougars (40s F)”
Since he's Stef's full time coach now, lemme bring up how in 2007 Mark Philippoussis hosted a dating show called "Age of Love"
The premise was that he (30M) got to choose between two groups of women: Kittens (20s F) and Cougars (40s F) pic.twitter.com/92RZRKrLig— f ❤️🔥 (@pluckyloser) August 8, 2023
Fast forward to today, Philippoussis finds himself in a more serious role as the coach of Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas. Together, they embarked on an exciting journey aimed at making progress in the world of professional tennis. Currently ranked fourth in the world, Tsitsipas is having a successful season, with notable achievements such as winning his 10th ATP title at the Los Cabos Open.
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Tsitsipas and Philippoussis back together after a brief break
The story of Tsitsipas and Philippoussis takes a surprising turn. They initially split earlier this year, with Tsitsipas choosing a training path for which his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, had long been a mentor. But a recent twist brought Philippoussis back into the picture. He and Tsitsipas are currently competing in the National Bank Open in Toronto, marking a new beginning for their partnership.
In a candid statement, Tsitsipas talked about his decision to onboard Philippoussis in his coach team, “It’s time to keep exploring new things. And I’m open-minded and I want to learn as much as I can to maximize my career because I have felt at times stagnant,” as reported by Tennis Up to Date.
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In sports, as in life, past and present can merge in interesting ways. As Tsitsipas strides onto the court with Philippoussis as his mentor, mixing an awkward reality TV history with a possible future victory makes for an intriguing story.
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