Stefanos Tsitsipas is currently running the show in Monte Carlo. He recently knocked out the new world number 2, Jannik Sinner to reach the finals of the clay court tournament. But do you know who are those people who ran the show for Tsitsipas over the years from backstage? Here’s a glimpse of the coaches who have played a crucial role in shaping up the 25-year-old’s tennis career.
Tsitsipas’ parents introduced him to the racket sport at a very young age. Recalling those moments he once stated, “My first memory is to be three and to hit balls with my father in the gap between lessons. I remember watching games on TV, as a baby. I can not tell you who was playing, but I remember watching.“
He started taking lessons at the age of 6 at the Glyfada Tennis Club, near Athens. He was mostly coached by his father throughout the early phases of his career, before eventually moving to the Patrick Mouratogolour Academy in 2015.
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Recalling his early days in Sophia Antipolis, Stefanos Tsitsipas said in a 2020 interview, “I was lucky enough to be spotted by Patrick Mouratoglou at the age of 14.” He has had many ups and downs in his career so far. But his father Apostolos Tsitsipas has always been beside him through thick and thin over the years. However, in August 2023, he parted ways with his father citing, “(I gave) my father some time off. He hasn’t had time off since I was 12 years old. For him, it’s very healthy to take some time away from the court and feel refreshed again.“
Stefanos Tsitsipas rehired Mark Philippoussis into his team (Tsitsipas has previously worked with him from February 2020 to May 2023) only to bid him farewell a few months later. When Stefanos Tsitsipas was asked about the exact reason for parting ways with Philippoussis, he said, “Mark Philippoussis is not part of the team anymore. I wanted to try with a coach and I wanted to see how that might work. It was a little bit off-tune in many ways. And not having the presence of my dad there felt like I was losing part of my identity as a player.“
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Regardless of the ups and downs the coaching side of his career faced, Stefanos Tsitsipas’ has found a lifelong admirer in Patrick Mouratogulou.
“I am 100% sure he will find a way” – Patrick Mouratoglou on Stefanos Tsitsipas’ chances of winning a Grand Slam event
“Dad, I have to tell you something: I want to become a tennis player. I like the competition, I like the challenge” – 9-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas said to his father, waking up in the middle of the night after a tournament in France. Since then, he never looked back. He became the world number 3 in 2021. Tsitsipas has reached the finals of Grand Slam tournaments twice in his career.
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Coming so far, yet missing out on the chance of creating a historic moment, Mouratoglou said , “It is the hardest time to win a Grand Slam but @DaniilMedwed has won one and @steftsitsipas made two finals and several semis of GS. And I am 100% sure he will find a way.” What are your thoughts on his 8-year-long journey so far as a pro tennis player?