Stefanos Tsitsipas’ former physiotherapist Jerome Bianchi has made shocking claims about the Greek’s “unstable” dynamic with his parents and their detrimental impact on his career. In light of the allegations, the Tsitsipas family is now pursuing legal action against Bianchi.
Tsitsipas’ father Apostolos has often come under fire for his constant coaching and disruptive behavior during the 26-year-old’s matches. In a recent interview with French publication L’Equipe, Jerome Bianchi, who worked with Stefanos Tsitsipas from 2018 to 2022, corroborated these concerns, shedding light on their “harmful” dynamic.The Frenchman revealed that several players refused to train with the World No. 11 because they couldn’t put up with his father’s distracting chatter and desire to “control everything.
Apostolos is kind, but also exaggerated. He loves his son very much. However, their relationship for years was not stable and it only did harm. His dark moments come from there,” Bianchi said.
“His father was talking so much that he couldn’t hear anything but himself. Because of his father, several players no longer wanted to train with him in tournaments. They couldn’t concentrate on training because he was constantly talking. He wants to control everything and doesn’t even leave room to breathe,” he added.
Bianchi also disclosed that whenever the Greek attempted to “free himself” from his father’s influence, his mother would “guilt” him into changing his mind by reminding him of the sacrifices Apostolos had made for his career.The 63-year-old extended his sympathy to Stefanos Tsitsipas, suggesting that his complicated family dynamic had cost him valuable time and prevented him from winning a Grand Slam title.
“Every time he thought about stopping working with his father, his mother told him not to, because his father had given his life for him, so they made him feel guilty,” Bianchi said.
Stefanos tries to free himself, but because of their close relationship it was not possible, and as a result he lost time. I feel bad for him because he is, I think, the most quality player. He has now reached an age where he understood that his career has not reached where it should be, which is to win a Grand Slam,” he added.
Jerome Bianchi’s comments have not been well received by the Tsitsipas family. In an exclusive statement given to Tennis24.gr, their lawyer Thanasis Papathanasiou revealed that legal action is being taken against Bianchi to “restore the prestige and dignity of the family.”
“Regarding the republishing of the article of the French newspaper “L’Equipe” containing statements by the former physiotherapist of Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jerome Bianchi , with whom the collaboration ended in 2022,” Papathanasiou said (Translated from Greek).
We would like to inform you that the Tsitsipas family has instructed the law firm Papathanasiou-Confino (Paris) to take the necessary legal actions, so as to restore the prestige and dignity of the family, affected by the statements of the physical therapist in question. You will be informed soon about the development of the case,” he added.
