Stefanos Tsitsipas has been making headlines in Monte Carlo, not only for his impressive title defense but also for the significant changes in his coaching setup. After announcing last year that he desired a coach who listens to his feedback, Tsitsipas parted ways with his father, Apostolos, after years of turbulent moments. He also struggled with past coaching collaborations, including with Mark Philippoussis. However, Tsitsipas is now reportedly set to bring in former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic’s ex-coach, Goran Ivanisevic, to his team following the French Open.
This move comes after a notable absence of Dimitris Hadjinikolaou from Tsitsipas’ box, and with Kerry Abakar now officially guiding Tsitsipas during the clay season. This shift in Tsitsipas’ coaching dynamics has caused a stir in the tennis community, with speculation growing around the new direction Tsitsipas is taking.
Greek journalist Dimitris Mytikas shared the news, reporting that Tsitsipas would begin his new partnership with Ivanisevic after Roland Garros. Former tennis champion Boris Becker quickly reacted, expressing support for this fresh development. Ivanisevic, a Croatian legend who guided Djokovic during one of his most dominant periods, is expected to bring his strategic expertise to Tsitsipas’ team. This isn’t the first time the two have been in discussions, as their initial talks were paused when Ivanisevic briefly worked with Elena Rybakina, but that collaboration ended after the Australian Open, opening the door for Tsitsipas to take advantage of Ivanisevic’s expertise.
Before this new chapter begins, Tsitsipas is focused on defending his Monte Carlo title. He cruised through to the quarterfinals with an impressive 6-1, 6-1 victory over Nuno Borges, securing his 50th ATP Masters 1000 win on clay, with 22 of those victories coming in Monte Carlo. Tsitsipas’ performance in Monte Carlo has been remarkable, with him now aiming for his fourth title at the event, trailing only Rafael Nadal in all-time titles at the tournament.
After his win over Borges, Tsitsipas reflected on the match, noting that despite the lopsided scoreline, the match itself was closer than it appeared, with both players pushing each other to the limit. Tsitsipas handled critical moments well, saving all five break points in the opening set. His undefeated record against players ranked outside the ATP Top 20 at Monte Carlo (15-0) further underscores his dominance on the clay courts there. With one title already this year in Dubai, Tsitsipas is determined to add more titles to his collection as he focuses on taking things match by match.
Tsitsipas’ next challenge will be 6th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who reached the quarterfinals after defeating Matteo Berrettini. Musetti’s impressive clay-court skills make this a challenging match for Tsitsipas, but he remains focused on creating more memories in Monte Carlo and continuing his strong run.
Fans are eagerly awaiting to see whether Tsitsipas can overcome Musetti and make his way to the semifinals. The tennis world is watching closely as the Greek star continues his quest for more titles and prepares for a new coaching era with Ivanisevic.