Stefanos Tsitsipas responds to Goran Ivanisevic’s criticism following their coaching split

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Goran Ivanisevic’s short-lived coaching stint came to an end after just two months, wrapping up in July 2025.

The Greek player’s struggles continued during their time together, which came to a close after his first-round exit from Wimbledon. Following the split, Ivanisevic didn’t hold back his criticisms of Tsitsipas, questioning both his preparation and approach to the game.

Since then, Tsitsipas has returned to working with his father and has now responded to Ivanisevic’s comments for the first time.

Stefanos Tsitsipas admits Goran Ivanisevic’s comments hit him hard

Tsitsipas has yet to recapture the form that took him to world number three in the ATP rankings back in 2021, but his 2026 campaign has shown signs of progress compared to last year.

Speaking to The Times about Ivanisevic’s criticism after their split, Tsitsipas said: “I didn’t see any point in it.

“If it was a way of him pushing me into working harder and getting my s— together, it was definitely not the right tactic. I was really hurt.

“I never expected that a coach could do that to me, and the worst thing is what he said was not true. I was not fit because I had been injured.

“I hadn’t been practising properly for over two weeks. It was like he kicked me when I was already down.”

Ivanisevic has since started working with Arthur Fils, who recently returned from a seven-month absence due to a back injury.

The Frenchman has already reached the final of the Qatar Open and made it to the semi-finals of the Miami Open under Ivanisevic’s guidance.

Ivanisevic stands by criticism of Tsitsipas

Even though it’s been nearly a year since Stefanos Tsitsipas and Goran Ivanisevic began their short-lived partnership, the fallout from their time together continues to draw attention.

Ivanisevic recently doubled down on his previous remarks about the Greek player, comments that have drawn criticism from various corners of the tennis world.

Speaking to Sportklub, he said: “I knew after the second day of training [that it would not succeed]. When he came to Zagreb to try rackets, I understood that it wouldn’t work out.

“In the end, I didn’t say anything bad; everything I stated was true and proved to be so. After Wimbledon, I advised him to take four months off because it wasn’t just a physical issue but also mental.

“He remains a phenomenal player, he was and still is, but those are just details. In today’s tennis, you can’t compete without being mentally prepared.”

Tsitsipas goes into this year’s Monte-Carlo Masters ranked 47th in the world rankings but will be encouraged by his record at the event.

He’s a three-time champion there and reached the quarter-finals in 2025 even while struggling for consistency throughout that season.

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