“I’m really disappointed at him,” Stefanos Tsitsipas said of his coach and father Apostolos after experiencing a shocking loss in Montreal. We all guessed what his next step would be—probably a professional split up between the duo. Soon, it turned into a reality when, a day after his loss, World No. 11 expressed, “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my collaboration with my father as a coach has come to an end.” Thus began the search for a new coach before the onset of the Cincinnati Masters. Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long to find his next coach. But who is this new addition to his team?

The Greek tennis pro, Tsitsipas, is heading for a clash against Juan-Lennard Struff in the round of 64 match in Cincinnati. However, in a training session held in Cincinnati on Monday, he was seen practicing under the guidance of the captain of the Davis Cup National Team and the Olympic team in Paris, Dimitris Hadjinikolaou. Before you believe him to be Tsitsipas’ coach, hear the full story.

Following the Olympics, Hatzinikolaou returned to Greece. However, he was swiftly summoned by the Tsitsipas family to join Stefanos in Cincinnati as he embarked on a new phase of his career. It would surprise many that Hatzinikolaou is a long-standing confidant of the family and enjoys a high degree of trust from the Greek star. All because of his younger brother!

With a warm smile and a wealth of experience, Tsitsipas’ new coach has nurtured the Greek player’s younger brother, Petros, during his junior years as a tennis player, building a good rapport with Stefanos as well. But when it comes to his playing career, Hadjinikolaou’s story of playing and coaching players varies vastly.

The 45-year-old coach has played some matches on the ITF circuit, especially in 2015 and 2016. However, his ranking (No. 515 as of May 2017) does not reflect his amazing career as a professional tennis player. Whereas Hatzinikolaou’s coaching experience is primarily limited to the Davis Cup, where he has served as captain of the Greek national team in recent years. His primary focus, however, lies in nurturing young Greek tennis talent at his own academy.

Moreover, with an experience of training Greek junior athletes in the Patrick Mouratoglou academy, Hadjinikolaou has also had the chance to expand his own business as a tennis trainer in his own academy. If one follows his academy on Instagram, his frequent pictures of many young athletes show up on the account, with many holding trophies and winning tournaments. 

Besides, there are several special mentions of Tsitsipas as well. Even when Tsitsipas won the Monte Carlo earlier this year, the academy paid tribute to the Greek player by posting a picture of him holding the trophy. Therefore, when Tsitsipas found out that Hadjinikolaou was going back home after taking charge of the Olympic tennis squad in Paris, he quickly called him in and began their partnership with him. But it was not before sharing a message for his father after they split up professionally.

Here’s what Tsitsipas said to his father before ending his coaching relationship with him:

When Tsitsipas fell short against Kei Nishikori in the round of 32 at the Canadian Open, it surprised him as well as fans alike. The 26-year-old player, who ended the game at 6-4, 6-4, was visibly frustrated at his gameplay. Later on, he expressed the same outburst on his father, by saying he was not “very smart,” in handling stressful situations during a match. After a day, Tsitsipas further said,

“My father has been trying for the last few years to train me, raise me the right way and provide me with knowledge and wisdom, both on and off the court. I thank him for that. I thank him for the sacrifices, pain and suffering he has endured to make this endeavor a success. From now on, his role will remain within the confines of the father role, and that alone.”

There have been many times over the years that the father-son duo has displayed their dissatisfaction with each other on-court, with some involving Tsitsipas breaking racquets in anger. However, even after splitting up once before, the duo renewed their coaching relationship later. But this time, it seems the matter has exceeded its limits. But as we see his new partnership unfold with Hadjinikolaou, hopefully, it will erase all the bitter feelings!