At the Canadian Open on Thursday, a video with Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas went viral, even if for the wrong reasons. It wasn’t an excellent performance but the vulgar verbal attack against his father and coach.
Suffering aa defeat by Japan’s Kei Nishikori, Tsitsipras turned to his father and coach Apostolos who was sitting at the box, loudly and repeatedly swearing at him to diffuse his frustration. He was clearly heard shouting to his father “Go f*ck! You [both] go f*ck! Get out!”
0 γκραν σλαμ έχει και στα 0 θα μείνει.
Εδώ θα’μαστε.
Τίποτα δεν είναι τυχαίο.#τσιτσιπας pic.twitter.com/ZqmA4Oq8Ur— Ο πρώτος του χωριού ® (@1stinthevillage) August 8, 2024
The camera captured the father to walk to the upper zone.
Έδιωξε από το γήπεδο…ο Τσιτσιπάς τον πατέρα του…..αφού πρώτα τον είχε "στολίσει"…..μεγάλο αθλητή σε κάνουν τα αποτελέσματα…. όμως τεράστιο αθλητή σε κάνει το ήθος σου……!!!!!!#τσιτσιπας pic.twitter.com/OnX4D3UaMQ
— th_eo (@theocha52630506) August 8, 2024
The video became viral with Greek social media users to be divided on whether Tsitsipas is just a “spoiled brat” or a “victim of his own family.” The majority of users lambasted the Greek tennis star, while not a few believed that the incident has to do with the “toxic relationship with his parents,” who are experienced tennis players. Both sides have wondered why 25-year-old Tsitsipas does not hire a new coach but remains with his father.
Tsitsipas disputes with his father and coach
Also after the game Tsitsipas criticized his father reportedly saying “it has been a poor performance from my father and it’s not the first time. I’m disappointed with him.”
According to Greek media, both parents were intervening with shouts while Tsitsipas was playing.
“The most important thing is to have good direct feedback, the coach needs to listen. The player is the one holding the racquet,” Tsitsipas added.
“I have power here to some degree but it should be a collaborative effort on both sides, for me to develop my tennis style,” he said.
It is not the first time the tennis star had a dispute with his father and he was also seen in the past to shout at his mother to leave the box during a game against a Russian player.
Tsitsipas had scolded his mother of Russian origin, who was heard to shout at him advises in Russian. “Are you out of your mind to speak in Russian? My opponent understands what you say!”
On Friday, Tsitsipas did not make clear whether he would end his professional relationship with his father, his mentor since childhood.
The 25-year-old, currently ranked 11th in the ATP rankings.
UPDATE
Early Friday evening (local time) and with a long post on social media Stefanos Tsitsipas announced the end of his collaboration with his father as a coach. Among others, he wrote that he was shocked about his own outburst
Σας ενημερώνω με βαριά καρδιά ότι η συνεργασία μου με τον πατέρα μου ως προπονητής έχει φτάσει στο τέλος της. Προτιμώ να κρατήσω τον πατέρα μου στον ρόλο του ως πατέρας, και μόνο ως πατέρας.
Η φιλοσοφία μας διδάσκει ότι η σοφία έρχεται μέσα από την κατανόηση των ορίων μας και…
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@steftsitsipas) August 9, 2024
“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.
Philosophy teaches us that wisdom comes through understanding our limits and recognizing our mistakes. In my case, I realized that I was wrong to talk to my father the way I did. Tennis is not just a match, a hit or a performance of a few seconds. It is a long journey full of emotions, pressure and expectations. In that moment of frustration, there were many mistakes and errors on the part of my coach and father. As an introvert, I tend to hold in my emotions and build them up until I reach a bursting point. I consider myself patient, so the fact that I reacted this way left me shocked.
My behavior on the pitch was unacceptable, and I feel disappointed that I got to a point where I showed a dark side of myself. When I feel disrespected, judged, or emotionally attacked, I tend to lose control of what comes out of my mouth, which goes against my values as a human being. I lost control and could not see clearly in front of me.
My father has been trying for the past few years to educate 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 endeavor 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. I’m not sure who will take his place, and I’m not in a position to decide yet.
What I do know is that it is time to let this chapter and this phase close, and try to write a new one.
We’ve both agreed on that and hope to focus on our human side first, then the rest.
Accepting my mistakes and trying to mend my ways is part of my path as an athlete, and I assure you that I will continue to work hard to improve myself, both on and off the field. I hope this experience is a lesson for me, and for everyone who struggles to find the right balance in their lives.”
