Goran Ivanisevic reveals first ‘main priority’ for Stefanos Tsitsipas as he sets rankings target
Goran Ivanisevic has claimed that Stefanos Tsitsipas “should be in the top five in the world” after the two began working together ahead of the grass-court season.
Greek star Tsitsipas announced last month that he would begin working with Ivanisevic this summer, after initial reports of a potential coaching relationship emerged earlier in the year.
A former world No 2 and Wimbledon champion during his playing career, Ivanisevic has become one of the most acclaimed coaches of his generation.
The Croatian is best known for his success working with Novak Djokovic across a six-year spell, and also guided Marin Cilic to the 2014 US Open title.
Ivanisevic briefly worked with WTA Tour player Elena Rybakina at the start of 2025, though their short-lived partnership ended after the Australian Open.
His new partnership with Tsitsipas comes with the Greek struggling with form, having fallen to world No 26 in the ATP Rankings.
The 26-year-old reached world No 3 at his peak and has reached two Grand Slam finals, finishing as the runner-up to Djokovic at the 2021 French Open and 2023 Australian Open.
Tsitsipas appeared to return to form with victory at the Dubai Tennis Championships back in February, though he has struggled since then.
The Greek was experimenting with a new racket at that tournament, though he has not done so since, with his most recent result being a shock second-round exit at the French Open.
While warning there would be no immediate fix, Ivanisevic revealed in an interview with Croatian broadcaster HRT that helping his new charge pick a new racket was a key priority.
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“The main priority was finding a racket; he has tried 12 rackets and has already decided which model he will play with,” said Ivanisevic.
“Right now, I cannot say that he is in his best tennis and physical condition. He is a player who should be in the top five in the world, in terms of potential, results, and everything else.
“I am not Harry Potter, and I will not change everything overnight with a wand. But, of course, if he works and there is cooperation as there should be, the results will come, both with me and without me.
“He is too good a player to be where he is, to play the way he is playing at the moment.”
Tsitsipas is playing for the first time since starting work with Ivanisevic at the Halle Open this week.
After his fall in the rankings, it will be the first time he has been unseeded at an ATP Tour-level event since the 2018 Cincinnati Open.
He will face Luciano Darderi in the opening round, before a potential second-round contest versus fifth seed Francisco Cerundolo.
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