Stefanos Tsitsipas appoints Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach after shocking French Open exit
Former world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas has made a major coaching appointment following his disappointing early defeat at the 2025 French Open, after it was confirmed he will start working with Goran Ivanisevic ahead of the grass-court season.
Ivanisevic, a former world No 2 who won Wimbledon in 2001, helped tennis icon Novak Djokovic win nine Grand Slam titles during an incredibly successful coaching collaboration between June 2019 and March 2024.
The 53-year-old Croatian also briefly worked with former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina at the start of this season, while he coached compatriot Marin Cilic to his only major title at the 2014 US Open.
“Working with Goran is an exciting opportunity for me,” said Tsitsipas. “He is someone who has reached the highest levels of tennis, both as a player and as a coach. I am confident that his experience will help me grow further and I am really looking forward to that.”
Former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic brings decades of experience to the team. Known for his strategic thinking and competitive mindset, he has played a key role in helping top players reach their goals.
“Stefanos is a very talented tennis player with a strong work ethic,” said Ivanisevic. “He has shown that he belongs among the best, and I’m happy to be part of the next steps of his journey. My goal is to enable him to thrive, building on the strong foundation he has already laid.”
The Croatian is set to be in Tsitsipas’ coaching box for the first time at the Halle Open, an ATP 500 grass-court tournament that will begin on June 16.
Many have called for Tsitsipas to appoint a coach with a proven track record at the elite level of tennis – and Ivanisevic certainly fits that description.
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As a former Wimbledon champion and three-time runner-up at the All England Club, the Croatian will bring no shortage of grass-court expertise to the table.
Tsitsipas has been coached by Greek Davis Cup captain Dimitris Chatzinikolaou since ending his coaching relationship with his father Apostolos in August 2024.
While Tsitsipas impressively won the Dubai Championships in March, his 2025 season has been difficult on the whole.
The 26-year-old Greek was upset 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 by world No 167 Matteo Gigante in the second round of the French Open – his earliest loss at Roland Garros since 2018.
That concluded an underwhelming clay season for Tsitsipas, who has dropped to 25th in the Live ATP Rankings.
After his loss to Gigante, Tsitsipas said: “I still want to be the best player in the world and I still want to do great things around this sport that I chose to play. My attention and focus is always to try and improve any aspect of my game.
“I’m an optimistic person. I don’t want to, you know, use any excuses or anything like that, so my entire focus is on how can we come to solutions, solve certain things.
“It’s a constant puzzle. I’m ambitious and I want to prove it on the tennis court. Things have definitely changed over the last couple of years and I know that I find myself in a completely different position now.
“I just need to use my experience a little bit more wisely, I would say. My experience sometimes kind of stabs me I feel like, instead of utilising it in a more professional and profound way.”
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