“Obviously a father-son relationship can be complicated. We’ve had our good moments, we’ve had our bad moments, miscommunications, not being able to communicate with ease. But we’re not perfect,” Stefanos Tsitsipas admitted at the Cincinnati Open, laying bare the raw truth as his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, returned to his coaching corner after a brief absence. The move was hardly surprising given his fleeting partnership with Goran Ivanisevic, which began after his Roland Garros exit and ended abruptly following his Wimbledon retirement, a span he later called “brief but intense.” Now, with his father reinstated and plans to add another coach, Tsitsipas stands at a crossroads of renewal and reinvention.

“We have changed our dynamic very much and I’m actually very happy the way we all cooperate and work together now,” Stefanos Tsitsipas told ATPTour.com, opening a window into the evolution of his partnership with his father. “It’s very refreshing as a player to have this relationship with a father. It’s exactly where I wanted it to be for a long time now. And I’m happy. He has adjusted to my needs and I have adjusted to his needs. And we have both created a type of dynamic that is one to be proud of.” After years of tension and miscommunication, the Greek has finally found equilibrium, blending familial trust with professional rigor.

While Tsitsipas is open to expanding his coaching team, he remains deeply respectful of his father’s decades-long experience in tennis. “My dad has been on the tour for a lot of years, even dating back to my mother’s playing days. So he has a lot of tennis in his life,” he said. “I’m extremely proud to call him my coach and my father. But first of all, my father. Secondly, my coach.” That duality, father first, coach second, underscores the delicate balance that now fuels Tsitsipas’ game and mindset.

Looking ahead, he envisions a carefully integrated addition to the team. “I definitely see [our current coaching partnership] as something sustainable,” he said. Looking ahead, he admitted he was open to expanding the team. “I would be interested in the future to add a person in my team that can collaborate and work with my dad. Obviously he’s not getting younger, so if I can find the right person, he can be by my dad’s side a little bit, with a clear, fresher mindset.”

He also spoke about wanting to give his father more balance in life. “That might also allow my dad to maybe take a step back a little bit to also enjoy life because it’s not only tennis. And I’ve been reminding him and telling him this for a very long time.” Tsitsipas’ foresight reflects a desire to balance peak performance with human connection, safeguarding both family and career.

The bond between father and son has always been evident, sometimes sparking headlines. At this year’s US Open, Apostolos Tsitsipas was warned for coaching from the sidelines during Stefanos’ second-round match against Daniel Altmaier, a small glimpse into the intensity that fuels their collaboration. Yet even under scrutiny, their relationship remains resilient, evolving into a partnership marked by trust, communication, and mutual respect.

Still, questions linger about Stefanos’ form this season. Critics and former American pros have raised eyebrows, pointing to inconsistency on the court. But Tsitsipas, buoyed by his recalibrated coaching dynamic and recent treatment for his back, seems poised to turn scrutiny into momentum. 

Former American pros shared their concern about Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas enters this year’s Rolex Shanghai Masters in unfamiliar territory. Once a regular at the Nitto ATP Finals, winning on debut in 2019 and qualifying five straight years through 2023, the Greek now seems destined to miss the season finale again after a near miss last year. Battling a persistent back complaint, he carries a modest 22-18 record into the eighth ATP Masters 1000 of the season, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering if the former top-five star can regain his rhythm.

Adding to the turbulence, Tsitsipas recently suffered a shock defeat in Greece’s Davis Cup tie against 19-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca. The teenager toppled the Greek sensation 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in just over two hours, highlighting cracks in Tsitsipas’ game that have become hard to ignore. The loss sparked concern among observers about whether the Greek can recapture the fire that once propelled him to Grand Slam finals.

Former American pro Steve Johnson didn’t hold back during the recent episode of the Nothing Major Show. “I mean, Tsitsipas is a rudderless boat at the moment. He has no idea what he’s doing. He just looks lost, I don’t know. He’s got to find some way to, like, get it back,” Johnson said. He added, “I feel bad for him. The guy was top five in the world and competing for slams, and now just looks lost out there. Doesn’t have a purpose. Like, the game plan isn’t there. He just seems…just he’s just lost. So I feel for him.”

Despite the doubts, Tsitsipas heads into Shanghai with a glimmer of advantage. He holds a 2-0 head-to-head record against Nuno Borges, both matches on outdoor clay, a surface that suits his aggressive style.

With his father Apostolos back in his corner, the dynamic that had once fueled his rise may be reignited, giving him the structure and support he needs to navigate pressure moments.