Goran Ivanisevic makes ‘shocked’ admission about Stefanos Tsitsipas
Goran Ivanisevic has admitted that he is unimpressed by Stefanos Tsitsipas, stating “I’ve never seen a more unprepared player in my life” following the Greek’s recent troubles.
Former world No 3 Tsitsipas has slipped to No 27 in the Live ATP Rankings after his early exit from Wimbledon.
The Greek, who started working with Ivanisevic in May, required medical treatment on this back while trailing qualifier Valentin Royer in the opening set in the first round at the All England Club and, after losing the first two sets 6-3, 6-2, he threw in the towel.
“I’m battling many wars these days. It’s really painful to see myself in a situation like this,” Tsitsipas said during his post-match press conference.
“One thing that I absolutely hate doing is retiring or stopping a match, but I’ve never pictured myself being in a situation like this multiple times since the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin a couple of years back.
“Since that time, I’ve been very fragile with my body, and I’ve been battling a war of feeling healthy and feeling comfortable going to the extremes, which has been a difficult battle. So I really don’t know.
“I feel completely – I feel like I’m left without answers. I don’t know. I’ve tried everything. I’ve done an incredible job with my fitness. I’ve done an incredible job with my physiotherapy, so I’ve maximized on everything that I possibly can do.
“Right now I’m just absolutely left with no answers. I don’t know what to do.”
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But 2001 Wimbledon winner Ivanisevic, who had a successful five-year stint as tennis great Novak Djokovic’s mentor before they parted ways at the start of 2024, has a different view about the 26-year-old’s struggles.
The Croat believes the player needs to “solve some things outside of tennis”.
“It’s simple and it’s not easy. I’ve talked to him many times. If he solves some things outside of tennis, then he has a chance and he’ll return to where he belongs, because he’s too good a player to be out of the top 10,” he said during an interview with Sport Klub.
Ivanisevic added: “He wants to, but he doesn’t do anything. All ‘I want, I want’, but I don’t see any progress. I was shocked, I’ve never seen a more unprepared player in my life. With this knee, I’m three times more prepared than him. This is really bad.”
In an interview before Wimbledon, Tsitsipas admitted that Ivanisevic’s “strict” approach to coaching him can only benefit him.
“I’m at a stage of my life and my career where I want something refreshing, I want something new, I want something exciting, I want something that has a different language to it, a different language programmed,” he said.
