Stefanos Tsitsipas and his new coach, Goran Ivanisevic, were spotted for the first time in Zagreb. Recent pictures show the Greek star training with his Croatian coach ahead of next week’s Halle Open. These two have been training since Wednesday, and reports suggest they are getting along well.
Tsitsipas expressed his views and spoke about this partnership. “Goran is very honest, I appreciate that, and I want that in our partnership. Honesty and transparency between the player and the coach,” he said. Tsitsipas believes working with Ivanisevic can help him return to the top of the sport.
Goran Ivanisevic: A Champion and a Mentor
Ivanisevic has an enviable resume. Ivanisevic, 53, won Wimbledon in 2001 as a wildcard when ranked 125th worldwide. He remains the only wildcard winner to achieve this feat. He was best known for his powerful left-handed serve. He created history by becoming one of the two unseeded players to have won the Gentlemen’s Singles, along with Boris Becker, who did it first in 1985.
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As a coach, Ivanisevic helped Novak Djokovic emerge victorious in 12 Grand Slams between 2018 and 2024. This successful partnership came to an end in March 2024, after a total of six years. The Croatian briefly coached Elena Rybakina earlier this year, but the partnership didn’t last long due to complications involving her former coach, Stefano Vukov.
He also worked with other top players, including Marin Cilic, leading him to the 2014 US Open title.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is Seeking a Fresh Start After the Split with His Father
Tsitsipas desperately needs a good coach. The former world number 3 has dropped to 26th in the ATP rankings, his lowest ranking since 2018, and has a record of 18-11 this season. His early second-round exit at Roland Garros 2025 against Matteo Gigante highlighted his recent struggles.
The Greek star split with his father, Apostolos, as coach after a heated argument during a match in Montreal last August. Things worsened for him when Tsitsipas suffered a back injury, forcing him to withdraw from key tournaments.
Grass courts present another challenge for him. Tsitsipas has a record of 31-21 on the surface, and his best Wimbledon result was a fourth-round finish in 2018. He was eliminated in the second round at Wimbledon after his defeat against Emil Ruusuvuori.
“I can’t say he’s in the best shape right now. He’s too good a player to be here and playing the way he’s playing right now,” Ivanisevic shared his honest opinion on Tsitsipas’ current form. The coach expects improvement by mid-July when they head to Umag together.
Starting Monday, the Halle Open is the first test for this new partnership. Ivanisevic’s expertise on grass courts could be valuable as Wimbledon approaches later this month.
