Stefanos Tsitsipas ended his coaching relationship with his father Apostolos last month, with the two-time Grand Slam finalist claiming the 56-year-old hadn’t been “very smart or very good” in certain situations. And now Tsitsipas’ former physiotherapist has opened up on the family dynamics and has insisted that the father and son team have a “harmful way of operating”
Tsitsipas has had a tense relationship with his father on the court at times and told him to “shut up” during his second round victory over Daniel Altmaier at the French Open earlier this year.
The Greek star then tore into Apostolos following his defeat to Kei Nishikori at the Canadian Open in August and announced their split shortly afterwards.
And during an interview with L’Equipe, Tsitsipas’ former physiotherapist Jerome Bianchi explained: “Their relationship has not been sustainable for years, their way of operating is harmful.”
Bianchi then avowed that other players stopped training alongside Tsitsipas as his father is a “chatterbox”, who “wants to take up all the space and leaves him zero oxygen”.
He also addressed the impact Tsitsipas’ mother had had on the coaching relationship as he added: “Every time Stefanos wanted to break up with his father, his mother ran and said, ‘You can’t do this to him, he dedicated his life to you’. And he found himself feeling guilty.
Bianchi went on to pay tribute to Tsitsipas in the interview, describing the 26-year-old as the “current player with the greatest physical qualities”, but admitted he was “sad” for the player. And the healthcare professional also revealed: “He realises that he is getting on in age and that his career has not been what it should have been.”
Tsitsipas is currently ranked at No. 11 in the world but has endured a tough year on the court. Three years ago, he lost to Novak Djokovic in the French Open final after throwing away a two-set advantage and was defeated by the Serbian in a second Grand Slam final at last year’s Australian Open.
And announcing his split from his father last month, the star said: “It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that my collaboration with my father as a coach has come to an end. I prefer to keep my father in his role as a father, and only as a father.
My father has been trying for the last few years to train me, raise me the right way and provide me with knowledge and wisdom, both on and off the field. I thank him for that. I thank him for the sacrifices, pain and suffering he has endured to make this endeavour a success.
From now on, his role will remain within the confines of the father role, and that alone. My father will continue to travel with me and be there to support me and provide assistance off the field, as I have always wanted.
“I have trusted my father with the coaching role for so many years, and I consider our partnership to be successful.”
