Occasional disagreements are a part of sport. They can, anyhow, lead to terrible circumstances if they hamper a player’s performance. That’s exactly what has happened with Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek talent has endured a disheartening fate at the Canadian Open, low-key owing to his family drama. The outcome? He has now decided to tackle the underlying issues with his family head-on.

In 2020, Tsitsipas voiced his dissatisfaction with his parent’s distinct interventions, stating that he would appreciate it if his mom, Julia Apostoli, took her foot off the gas and let him be. “My mum, she knows a lot about tennis,” Tsitsipas told reporters in 2020. “Sometimes it can be a bit complicated when she wants to give her own opinion or advice direct to me, then have my dad tell me something else.” Later, to much surprise, his mother invaded one of his post-match pressers.

A resurfaced video from 2020 has shed new light on the complex dynamics between Tsitsipas and his mother. In the clip, Apostoli is seen putting her son on the spot during a press conference, questioning him about players who had benefited from parental coaching. The incident has sparked renewed speculation about the potential impact of a strained family environment on Tsitsipas’ career. This is not an isolated instance; it suggests a pattern of behavior that has contributed to the ongoing narrative surrounding the Greek star’s personal and professional challenges.

In the past, the 25-year-old has been subjected to tense circumstances from his family, wherein he partook in multiple heated confrontations with his father, Apostolos. While performing at the French Open’s second-round match, the World No. 11 lost his temper after his father attempted to intervene and offer his advice after the Greek had lost a crucial break point to Daniel Altmaier. An irked Tsitsipas unleashed on Apostolos, angrily instructing his father to “shut up.”

Just yesterday, Tsitsipas announced his split with his father as a coach. Following a premature end to his ATP Toronto campaign, wherein he was thrashed by Kei Nishikori 4-6, 4-6 in the event’s second round, the Greek said that “there were many mistakes and errors on the part of my coach and father”. Later, the 25-year-old took to his X handle to publicize his decision and instead, appreciated if Apostolos solely stuck to his duties as a father.

He said, “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my collaboration with my father as a coach has come to an end. I prefer to keep my father in his role as a father, and only as a father.” While the former World No. 3 is seemingly ready to turn a new page, he is unsure about who assumes the role of his new coach.

Tsitsipas cites that he is in ‘no position’ to decide what’s next

In a detailed post on X, Stefanos highlighted that his coaching partnership with his father although earned modest success, he now looks forward to a new beginning. Moreover, the two-time Grand Slam finalist also cited that he isn’t sure who coaches him next and noted that his father would continue to travel with him.

He wrote, “I have trusted my father with the coaching role for so many years, and I consider our partnership to be successful. I’m not sure who will take his place, and I’m not in a position to decide yet. What I do know is that it is time to let this chapter and this phase close, and try to write a new one. My father will continue to travel with me and be there to support me off the field, as I have always wanted.”

With this, the role of Tsitsipas’ new coach is up for grabs. Although it is still unclear how the Greek will manage to stay on good terms with his father off-court following their split, the former World No. 3 will certainly look to incorporate major tweaks to his performance ahead of the US Open!