Tsitsipas Expresses Disappointment In Father's Coaching After Shock Loss

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Stefanos Tsitsipas has criticised his father's coaching methods following a surprising straight-sets loss at the Canadian Open. The 25-year-old was defeated 6-4, 6-4 by Kei Nishikori, ranked 576th in the world, marking the tournament's biggest upset in Montreal.

Tsitsipas's recent performances have been underwhelming. He was eliminated by Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games and faced an early exit at Wimbledon, losing to Emil Ruusuvuori in the second round. These setbacks have led him to question his father and coach, Apostolos Tsitsipas.

During Thursday's match, Tsitsipas asked his father to leave midway through, expressing dissatisfaction with his coaching. "I need, and I deserve, a coach that listens to me and hears my feedback as a player," Tsitsipas said. "My father hasn't been very smart or very good at handling those situations. It's not the first time he has done that. I'm really disappointed at him."

Despite his frustrations, Tsitsipas remains uncertain about making any immediate changes to his coaching team. "I really don't know right now if I'd consider any changes, but I'm really disappointed," he stated.

The Greek player emphasised the necessity of effective communication between a player and their coach. "The most important thing for a player is to have direct and good feedback from a coach," he explained. "The coach is not the one holding a racket. The player is the one trying to execute a game plan."

He further elaborated on the collaborative nature of tennis coaching: "It's a collaborative work that you put in together. It has to be reciprocal in order for me to try to develop my tennis."

Nishikori's victory over Tsitsipas marks his first win against a Top 20 player since 2021. The ATP Tour celebrated this achievement on social media: "First Top 20 win since 2021! @keinishikori stuns Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4 to advance in Montreal!"

Tsitsipas's comments highlight his desire for improvement and better support from his coaching team as he continues to strive for success on the court.

@OBNmontreal | #OBN24 pic.twitter.com/9ZkXJxPXHQ

The young athlete's candid remarks reflect his ongoing struggle to find the right balance in his professional relationships, aiming for growth and development in his tennis career.