Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas cryptically lashed out at “dictators,” weeks after his coach Goran Ivanišević criticized him after a shock first-round exit at Wimbledon. The comments suggest growing tension between the former World No. 3.
Stefanos Tsitsipas Has Made a Cryptic Jibe Against ‘Dictators’
Speaking to Sport Club studio, Ivanišević expressed his disappointment with Tsitsipas, who has been struggling with poor form throughout 2025. The Croatian coach’s harsh assessment came days after the Greek retired during his Wimbledon opener against French qualifier Valentin, trailing 6-3, 6-2.
“It’s simple and it’s not simple. I’ve talked to him a lot of times. If he solves some things outside of tennis, then he has a chance and he’ll return to where he belongs, because he’s too good a player to be out of the top 10,” Ivanišević said.
However, Ivanišević’s criticism became much more pointed: “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.”
The two-time Grand Slam finalist, who peaked at No. 3 in the rankings, has fallen to No. 29 in the latest ranking chart. This dramatic slide has highlighted the disconnect between his talent and current performance level.
In a recent interview with SDNA, Tsitsipas cryptically remarked that “it is very difficult” to work with “dictators” and “people who speak negatively.” However, he did not name anyone specifically, leaving observers to wonder if this was directed at Ivanišević.
“When I work with the right people, with people that I choose and make me feel comfortable, there is a mood,” the Greek said in the interview.
He continued, “Comfortable doesn’t mean that I stop training whenever I want or that I tell you how much exercise I want to do, they are the ones who have a common line, who know how hard we work and what we want to achieve through the work we put in, but also maintain a friendly atmosphere throughout it all.”
Tsitsipas, lambasting what he called “dictators,” stressed that he wants to work with people who will remain friends after his career ends. This philosophy appears to contrast sharply with Ivanišević’s demanding approach.
“It is very difficult to have dictators and people who speak negatively and you don’t feel like they are close to you like family,” Tsitsipas said. “Being able to build a family out of this, people who will not only work with you in the tennis part but will also be your friends after your career, is something that I really want to build.”
The Greek added, “My trainer Fred (Lefevre), I plan to have for the rest of my life. He’s not just a person who will be with me for the next 10 years, he’s a member of my family.”
Lefevre, who works as the fitness director at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, is Tsitsipas’s primary fitness coach.
How Has Stefanos Tsitsipas Performed in the 2025 Season?
In the 2025 tennis season, Tsitsipas has experienced a mix of highs and lows that reflect his overall inconsistency. He started the year with a disappointing first-round loss at the Australian Open to Alex Michelsen, his earliest defeat in Melbourne since 2018.
However, Tsitsipas rebounded to win his first ATP 500 title in Dubai, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in the final. This victory temporarily lifted him back into the top 10 at No. 9, providing hope that he was returning to his best form.
The Greek also reached the quarterfinals in Indian Wells and Monte Carlo, continuing his traditionally strong performance on clay courts. Unfortunately, this momentum didn’t carry through to the French Open.
At Roland Garros, Tsitsipas went out in the second round, losing 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to unseeded Italian Matteo Gigante. This early exit marked his worst French Open result since 2018. It caused him to drop out of the top 20 for the first time since August 2018.
Following the French Open loss, Tsitsipas admitted to playing “immaturely at times” and acknowledged being “too impulsive instead of handling situations conservatively.” These comments suggested growing self-awareness about his mental approach to matches.
You finally find your rhythm… right before the rain delay.
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) July 23, 2025
Tsitsipas recently took to X to suggest that he was finding his rhythm until he got injured at Wimbledon. “You finally find your rhythm,” he wrote cryptically, “right before the rain delay.”
Currently holding a 19-13 record for the year, Tsitsipas is experiencing his lowest win percentage since 2018. The decline is particularly stark when compared to his previous achievements, including finals appearances at the 2021 French Open and 2023 Australian Open. He has now reached only one quarterfinal in his last nine Grand Slam tournaments, highlighting just how far his game has fallen from its peak.
