Stefanos Tsitsipas admits he's made a 'big mistake' and issues public apology to his father after re-hiring him as coach

Stefanos Tsitsipas has made another coaching change as he looks to turn his season around ahead of the North American hard-court swing.

After just two months together, Tsitsipas and Goran Ivanisevic have split after a poor grass-court season.

Beginning their relationship at the Halle Open, Tsitsipas defeated Luciano Darderi in his opening match, his only win with Ivanisevic as his coach.

Losses to Alex Michelsen in Halle and Valentin Royer at Wimbledon brought the Greek star’s shocking grass season to an end, finishing with a 1-2 record on the surface.

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Releasing a statement upon the conclusion of their working relationship, Ivanisevic revealed that Tsitsipas will now re-hire Apostolos Tsitsipas (his father) as his coach.

Just hours before the news broke of Ivanisevic and Tsitsipas‘ split, the 26-year-old has issued an apology to his father, outlining how they plan to work together in the future.

Stefanos Tsitsipas issues an apology to his father and outlines future plans

Tsitsipas ended his coaching relationship with his father last year, as tensions boiled over at the Canadian Open.

The former world number three asked his father to leave his box in Montreal and said he was ‘very disappointed in him’ during his post-match press conference.

Speaking to Greek media outlet SDNA, Tsitsipas has now apologized, as he looks forward to a better relationship with Apostolos from here on.

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“We discussed it, from my side, I had to apologize because it was a big mistake on my part,” said Tsitsipas.

“We have found a new line of communication and a way to talk to each other, so that such things don’t happen again and such tensions don’t arise again.

“I love my father with all my heart, and what he has done in recent years is truly exciting. He has helped me in my difficult moments, in my most successful and good moments; my family has always been there. I don’t want to be separated from them.

“Tensions may arise again, in the sense that I may feel burdened again, but the relationship I have with my father I will not find anywhere else.”

The world number 29 proceeded to comment on what he looks for from a coach, as he named the member of his team he wants to work with for the ‘rest of his life’.

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“When I work with the right people, with people that I choose and make me feel comfortable, there is a mood,” said Tsitsipas.

“Comfortable doesn’t mean that I stop training whenever I want or that I tell you how much exercise I want to do, they are the ones who have a common line, who know how hard we work and what we want to achieve through the work we put in, but also maintain a friendly atmosphere throughout it all.

“It is very difficult to have dictators and people who speak negatively, and you don’t feel like they are close to you, like family.

“Being able to build a family out of this, people who will not only work with you in the tennis part but will also be your friends after your career, is something that I really want to build.

“My trainer, Fred [Lefevre], I plan to have for the rest of my life. He’s not just a person who will be with me for the next ten years, he’s a member of my family.”

With his coaching situation settled, Tsitsipas can now focus on finishing 2025 on a high note, as he heads to North America.

Can Stefanos Tsitsipas shock the world and win the Canadian Open?

12 months on from their disagreement in Montreal, Tsitsipas and his father will reunite in Toronto for the Canadian Open.

Tsitsipas is a former finalist at the Canadian Open and could be primed to take advantage of a weakened field, following the long list of withdrawals.

Big-name withdrawals from the Canadian Open

The Greek star will certainly be looking to improve upon his recent results in Canada, having lost in the second round on his previous three visits.

Only time will tell if Tsitsipas can win his fourth Masters 1000 title in Toronto, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action when the tournament begins on Monday, July 28.

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