With a personal confession he began his presence at the Cincinnati Tournament Stefanos Tsitsipasrevealing that he wants to have his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, by the end of his career.
Specifically, Stefanos Tsitsipas gave his first press conference ahead of his first race at the tournament (Saturday 9/8), where he faces Fabian Morozan in the second round and spoke openly about his difficulties, collaborations with other coaches and coaches.
Despite their highly talked -about and intense collaboration, the 26 -year -old said: “I want to train with my father until I retire from tennis”, showing the confidence and deep connection between them.
Tsitsipas also referred to the injury he faced at Wimbledon, who kept him out of action for a while, but stressed that he now feels ready for the hard surface and demands of the American Masters.
With the new season culminating in North America Court, Tsitsipas seems determined to return to high flights, once again with him the man who supported him from his first steps.
Tsitsipa’s words
For the serious problem he faced in his middle and how he overcame it:
“I can’t tell you, because I don’t want to bother it. Maybe ask me this question in three months from now. And then I might be able to tell you in more details. Without fun, I don’t want to bother it. I can only tell you that there are some things you can apply and include in your preparation, but also in the way you think about how to avoid things. And they help. I changed a little bit of things in my life. They seem to help. I don’t want to talk much about it because in Greece we have the “eye” so as not to grieve. “
For whether the problem in his middle was fired by the stress he faces:
“It may be that too. Yes, I thought about it. I thought about it because for the last two years I was having a lot of stress. And if they were not directly linked to my results or how I was playing. Do you understand what I mean? This may not be to blame. But it certainly didn’t help. And removing it a little bit of the atmosphere and space around me. I feel like I can work with more calm and less stress. It is clearer what I am trying to do. Even if it does not succeed. “
For the relationship with his father, Apostle, and the end of their cooperation:
“We had to change things with my father. And what was very difficult and made my life a little difficult on the court was that he was not ready to change. I contacted him many times. I told him I want things to be done in a certain way. And I felt he couldn’t respond in my own way. And then I thought it is difficult to change a man who has been like his whole life. Especially in the most mature stages of his life. I just couldn’t.
I felt that there wasn’t much I could do. He created a very disappointment to be around him. Instead of giving me joy, it created me frustration. And that was why I stopped.
I’ll tell you something that may have woke him up a bit and made him understand some things. I think not having me in his life a lot. He made him realize many things. What loses and what is also part of his identity. Because much of his identity was to be with me and living this dream of tennis life. I feel he has really taken his lesson. He has learned to put me in perhaps first of his ideas and beliefs. I think he appreciates the player’s feedback much more than then. Time will show. I hope the relationship continues so because we have had no problems so far. We know when to choose our battles. We don’t shout at each other like old.
Because it’s true. Many people had seen it. And I can’t say it wasn’t true because it was. So I feel that a more harmonious relationship has been created between us. And there is mutual respect. The problem is that when one loses respect for each other, it is very difficult to work in a professional environment like this. You can’t work with someone you don’t respect enough. And this respect has come back and confidence has been renovated in my relationship with my father. “
On whether he felt that he sometimes did not have the required respect from his father:
“I would say it was on both sides. It was both on my side and his own. It was not one -sided. It creates a lot of frustration, as I said. When you feel you can’t be understood. When you try to be as mature as possible and give feedback. And the other is stubborn and does not want to do things in a certain way. This reduces me as a player. It makes me feel that I have no value. And then the tension is constantly rising.
And instead of having the relationship I really want with my father – I have a picture of how I want it to be – where we work hard, we have a great off -field relationship, and I can see him as a coach, which is the case now. Things then tighten. Unnecessary tension is created on my side. Not so much from his own. Because he could adjust it. It wasn’t a big issue for him. But I am the player. I am on the pitch trying to do what I do. And to happen such things creates great discomfort.
It is definitely a matter of way. It definitely has to do with the way you pass a message. I think no player wants to judge him for what he is trying to do. You have a game plan. You want to execute it. Psychologically it is not good to know that they judge you for your decisions. It has matured a lot in it. And he has realized that he needs to show more empathy and understanding of why some things are happening. Yes, he has his own view of how things had to be. But he can’t constantly oppose what the player says. One of the key elements that caused us a problem was this contradiction factor. Many times it seemed that instead of giving clear solutions, he made them more complicated than he needed.
He has become a better listener. It can be stubborn at times. And I say it with a good heart, I don’t say it to judge him. I say it because he is really stubborn. And I think that’s why he has succeeded. His stubbornness helped him achieve and do great things in tennis. So for me it’s something great that it has. But he has to put it aside when it is important to listen to the player and have clear communication. I want to work with him until the last day I play tennis. I don’t want to be missing from the picture. I want to be there as a coach. It is up to him to make it happen. It is up to him to want to work with me in the best possible way and to be a listener. Not just make monologues. I don’t need monologues. I need someone who can hear. “
For this year’s collaborations with three different coaches:
“My collaboration with Kerry Abakas and Dimitris Hatzinikolaou was of great value. I really liked to work with both. And there are very important people in my life. Kerry is at the Academy. I meet him and we train together when I’m there. Dimitris is Greek and I know him for six years. Dimitris came to replace my father. The closest thing to my father was probably Dimitris. There was no one who was closer to my father than him. He was also the leader and coach of the Davis Cup.
Being with them has taught me a lot. It made me realize many things. That what I had with my father is hard to replace. There is something with my father who is hard to describe in words. Yes, these people gave me support that I chose to have by my side. But there was a big element missing from the player-trainer relationship. I understood this more when I started working with Goran Ivanisevic.
This was the focal point that I realized that it was time to give my father another chance. To bring him back to me again. Goran is a great coach. Fantastic man, we spent three or four wonderful weeks together. He has a lot of experience and knowledge of the game. But it made me realize that it is time to bring back the Apostle. I realized this in the whole process. “