Stefanos Tsitsipas shares ‘narcissistic parents’ message months after firing his father as coach
Stefanos Tsitsipas shared a video about being raised by “narcissistic” parents as he declared he has undergone “a quiet storm of evolution” in recent months.
The Greek star ended his player-coach relationship with his father Apostolos Tsitsipas in August after a loss to Kei Nihsikori at the Cincinnati Masters. He had been coached by his father since his childhood.
After the aforementioned match, Tsitsipas blasted Apostolos’ coaching approach by saying he “hasn’t been very smart or very good” at listening to his feedback and added he was “really disappointed at him.”
Tsitsipas then apologised and expressed regret over the “unacceptable” way he had behaved in a lengthy and emotional statement confirming the coaching split.
“My father has been trying for the last few years to train me, raise me the right way and provide me with knowledge and wisdom, both on and off the field. I thank him for that,” the 26-year-old wrote.
“I thank him for the sacrifices, pain and suffering he has endured to make this endeavour a success. From now on, his role will remain within the continues of the father role, and that alone.”
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Tsitsipas ended the 2024 season as the world No 11 after failing to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2018. He won his only title of the year at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
In a post on his Instagram account, Tsitsipas wrote: “The past months have been a quiet storm of evolution.
“Through flaws, risks, and endless possibility, life reveals its beauty — not in perfection, but in its bold unpredictability. What’s coming? Only time will tell.”
In the last slide of the post, the two-time Grand Slam finalist included a video where a narrator speaks about narcissistic parents.
“The child of a narcissistic parent learns early that love is conditional. They quickly understand they’ll only be loved for what they do, not who they are,” the narrator said.
“They sense their parents cannot meet their emotional needs, so they learn to perform: exceling in sports, academics or becoming their parents’ confidant and emotional support.”
