Former Wimbledon champion and renowned coach Goran Ivanisevic has brutally slammed Stefanos Tsitsipas, questioning the Greek star’s work ethic and mental readiness in scathing, honest assessments.
In a recent interview, Ivanisevic didn’t hold back when asked about Tsitsipas’s current struggles and form.
“He wants, but he doesn’t do anything,” Ivanisevic said. “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.”
The Croatian, who famously coached Novak Djokovic to multiple Grand Slam titles, expressed disbelief at Tsitsipas’s lack of physical preparation. As per the former tennis professional, despite having the desire, the 26-year-old lacks the discipline and structure to back it up.
Tsitsipas, once considered a future No. 1 and a regular top-10 presence, has recently slipped in the rankings and struggled with consistency on court. He is currently in the 26th position with 1920 points.
Ivanisevic further pointed to what Stefanos Tsitsipas needs to address.
“It’s simple and it’s not simple,” he said. “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.”
Though Ivanisevic didn’t go into specifics, his mention of “things outside of tennis”, as per many fans and critics, hints at the off-court distractions or personal challenges that may be affecting Tsitsipas’s focus. And this might include his relationship with another tennis star, Paula Badosa.
Whether this tough-love criticism will serve as motivation or simply add pressure remains to be seen.