Marcos Baghdatis scolds Goran Ivanisevic for harsh comments towards Stefanos Tsitsipas
Marco Baghdatis scolded Goran Ivanisevic for the Croat’s harsh comments about Stefanos Tsitsipas, his student, after the Greek retired during his first-round match at Wimbledon.
Tsitsipas has been struggling for form in the last 12 months, having fallen to the world No 27 spot.
Most recently, the Greek retired whilst down 6-3, 6-2 to Valentin Royer in the first round of Wimbledon, unable to overcome back discomfort. The issue has appeared to be a chronic issue since the Nitto ATP Finals in 2023, often looking less than 100% when playing.
Baghdatis, who retired in 2019 and reached a career-high ranking of world No 8, attempted to provide his input into how Tsitsipas could reach the pinnacle of tennis once again.
“We can see that some decisions that he took in the last two years are coming bad for him. But for him, in a way, he’s lost his way a bit,” Baghdatis told Ubitennis.
“I think it’s unfortunate, but I am pretty sure that he will find a way to bounce back, even though he said some things after the loss in Wimbledon.
“He’s doubting himself right now, which is normal when you’re lost, but I think he didn’t mean every word he said. And I think he will find a way to bounce back.
“I think you take some time out, some time to reflect, some time to find the right team, not to rush into decisions.
“What I did and it helped me a lot was travel alone for a couple of tournaments just to find myself back on the tennis court, not to have somebody telling me what to do to find my own way.
“Start taking decisions on what you need, like what your career needs, what your tennis needs, and not what you as a person need. I think that’s very crucial. That’s very important.
“If I were to give him advice, that’s what I would give him and take his time to decide the future.”
Prior to the French Open, it was revealed that former world No 2 Goran Ivanisevic would be joining Tsitsipas’ team as coach – a position which he once held for Novak Djokovic from 2019 until 2024.
Ivanisevic was brutally honest in his assessment of the Greek’s current form and physical state after his student’s latest retirement.
“I told him not to play tennis right now. He needs to fix his back and get physically fit because physically – he’s a disaster,” the Croat said, in an interview with Clay Tennis.
“I can’t understand how a player of his level can be so unfit. After that, he can think about playing tennis again.
“There are things I can explain to him and connect with him because I felt that way too when I fell to 128 in the world. He’s 26th — that’s a big difference. But I didn’t have off-court issues, I made my own problems.”
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Baghdatis, despite agreeing with much of what the 2001 Wimbledon champion said, lambasted the Grand Slam winner for going public with his thoughts.
“I’m not saying what Goran said in his interviews is not right, 99% of what he said, I’m pretty sure he’s right because I know Goran,” added the Cypriot.
“I know he’s a great guy, he says things as they are and as he sees them.
“But me personally, if I were coaching, I wouldn’t go out there and say this in the media. I would tell it to the team and I would tell it to Stefanos himself. Then, if he doesn’t want to listen, I would part ways and that’s it. To the media and say that, I wouldn’t do that.
“The most important thing is to find a way to shock Stefanos, to get him back to where we all want to see him, especially me as a Cypriot Greek.
“Maybe Goran’s way is the way. I hope the way that Goran took things into his hands will help Stefanos and it will shock Stefanos in a way to come back.
“What I want is to go around to Stefanos to be back where he belongs and find the love of the game again.”
Tsitsipas is next scheduled to participate in the Masters 1000 event in Toronto, beginning July 28th.
