For many players, the toughest battles don’t end when they step off the court. The intensity, grit, and emotions that drive them on-court can spill over into their lives off it, too. For Stefanos Tsitsipas, this struggle has been particularly true with one of his most significant relationships—that with his father and coach, Apostolos Tsitsipas. And now, in a recent, heartfelt revelation, Tsitsipas opened up about the “fiery” dynamic he shares with his father.

The Greek tennis sensation, along with his girlfriend Paula Badosa engaged in an interaction with the Spanish magazine Hola, as they were also featured on its cover page. The duo deliberated on a lot of factors including their relationship on and off the courts and Tsitsipas’ bond with his father. The 26-year-old highlighted the importance of his father which he feels regularly, but claimed that it was necessary for him to take some strict calls. 

Speaking in the interview, Tsitsipas said, “My father has probably been the core of my entire life, not only in tennis, but also in my day-to-day life. He has been a very important figure, but I had already felt on several occasions that need to move forward professionally without him.” Tsitsipas’ father Apostolos has been coaching the player since he was just nine years old and has helped him walk through successful routes of the tennis corridors. But while the star player acknowledged his father’s contribution, he revealed that parting ways with him was crucial even though their relationship extended for over 16 years. 

“It has been very difficult for the two of us to have a natural father-son relationship during all these years of championships. That was also one of the main reasons why I decided to part ways with him as a coach. Ultimately, it can also be understood as a way to save our relationship and build something healthy in the future,” the Greek player revealed. For those unaware, the father-son duo witnessed an ugly phase in their relationship during the American swing. 

Soon after his first-round defeat at the Canadian Open, the star player fired his father as his coach, and expressed his dissatisfaction over their partnership. “For me, an ATP Master 1000 match is an important match. I need and 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,” he remarked during a press conference post his loss. However, Tsitsipas’ father has revealed that his son has apologized for his behavior against him.

Apostolos shared his thoughts on the incident with Newsit on September 28th and did not express his anger against his son. “Athletes are under a lot of pressure. Many times they will go out of their way,” he said. “At some point, someone will mature and understand that they have to manage it. Stefanos Tsitsipas is a very good boy and has a good soul,” the Greek player’s father added. But do you know that Stefanos Tsitsipas‘s father has not just helped him on the courts but has also saved his life, quite literally?

When Stefanos Tsitsipas revealed how his father saved his life

Stefanos Tsitsipas has faced several critical situations in his life and has even fought for his survival. The Greek tennis sensation faced a near-death experience way back in 2015. Fortunately, he was saved by his father from perishing away, which also gave him a new life in a literal sense. 

In an interview with Tennis Channel’s Second Serve program, Tsitsipas opened up on his experience. “I have actually forgotten about that incident, a long time ago now. But at the time, it was life-changing when it happened and it gave me different perspective of life, of my career, of my everyday purpose, let’s say,” he said. A teenage Tsitsipas went swimming along with a friend while competing in a third-tier event in Crete but the duo miscalculated the force of the stream. But his father was quick to act.

Apostolos, saw the boys from afar and dove in to save them just as they were about to be swept away. He quickly provided them with help and saved them from drawing. Thanking his father for the gesture, Tsitsipas had said, “My father was a hero,” in an earlier interview. As the sport continues to evolve, it would be interesting to see how the father-son dynamics evolve over time. Will they reunite again? Well, only time will tell.