World No. 26 Stefanos Tsitsipas’ coach, Goran Ivanišević, recently issued critical remarks on the Greek’s preparation, raising eyebrows among tennis pundits. Former World No. 1 Jim Courier’s reaction to the Croat’s statements wasn’t any different.
Once ranked inside the Top three of the ATP rankings, Tsitsipas has slipped to No. 26, largely due to a prolonged dip in form and a recurring back injury. Most recently, the same injury forced him to retire from his first-round match at Wimbledon against French qualifier Valentin Royer.
What Did Jim Courier Say About Goran Ivanišević’s Brutal Comments About Stefanos Tsitsipas?
Speaking at Wimbledon, Ivanišević suggested that Tsitsipas could regain his form by addressing certain issues off the court. However, his remarks grew significantly harsher as he added:
“He wants, but he doesn’t do anything. All ‘I want, I want’, but I don’t see that progress. I was shocked. I have never seen a more unprepared player in my life. With this knee, I am three times more fit than him. This is really bad,” said Ivanišević, who suffered from a series of knee injuries towards the end of his career.
While speaking on Tennis Channel, tennis legend Jim Courier recently shared his thoughts on Ivanišević’s blunt remarks. Jim Courier said he initially thought the Croat’s blunt remarks were a spoof, as coaches are usually more guarded when commenting on the players they work with. He later clarified that Ivanišević was mainly referring to Tsitsipas’ ongoing back issues and physical struggles.
“I honestly had asked multiple times is that a spoof? Because, you just don’t hear coach talking about it as much of a truth teller as Goran is. You expect coaches probably to be a little bit more cagey with those comments than perhaps that. Once you dig a little deeper into the comments, that’s a really interesting pull quote,” the American said.
“But he’s really talking about the physical state and the fact that his back has been such problem, and he hasn’t been to solve it. Goran was saying, he is in better shape physically,” he added.
“I thought it was a joke”
Hall of famers shocked by Goran Ivanisevic’s critical comments towards Stefanos Tsitsipas 😳#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ER4kdC9c8s
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 4, 2025
The 54-year-old also said that understanding Ivanišević’s tone would offer clearer insight into his true intent. However, he noted that Tsitsipas would likely be shocked if he heard the comment.
“Goran was saying, he is in better shape physically. And that’s what Goran said. My knee is bad, but I’m still better than he is with his back. So I think I would love to hear that. I don’t speak Croatian. I would love to hear the tone that he used, because I think a lot of that would probably tell us what he was really trying to tell. But, if you are Tsitsipas and you’re just listening to our show, you’re going, what the X,” Courier said.
Ivanišević, once ranked No. 2 in the world, was part of Novak Djokovic’s coaching team from 2019 to 2024.
Jim Courier Questioned Whether the Media Had Portrayed Stefanos Tsitsipas’ Coach’s Recent Comments Accurately
At the end of the interview, Courier said he suspects the media may have taken Ivanišević’s comments out of context. He added that, in his experience, the Croatian tends to choose his words more carefully.
“I am still calling Yahtzee on this. Something doesn’t smell right about the way this is being, you know, put out by the media that clipped it. Maybe I’m completely wrong. Maybe he said what he meant there, but it just doesn’t seem. I know Goran forever. But this just is out of character for him. He’s more savvy than this,” he added.
Notably, Tsitsipas had also expressed concerns on his back injury after his Wimbledon exit. The Greek even added that he’ll soon have to decide whether to continue competing or take a break.