Stefanos Tsitsipas has announced a very significant change of course. The Greek has announced Mark Philippoussis as his new head coach, relegating his father, Apostolos, to a secondary role. For the first time since he hit the pro circuit, the main figure on his bench won’t be a member of his family.
It is news, perhaps, that has gone a little unnoticed. Stefanos Tsitsipas he made the results speak for themselves last week, when he was proclaimed champion in the tournament of Los Cabos. Curiously, that event symbolized the union with Mark Philippoussiswith whom he has been working for more than a year, but whom he had decided to do without shortly after his defeat against Carlos Alcaraz in Roland Garros. What seemed like a return to the origins, with his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, as the only captain of the ship, it took little time to become a total change of course. And it is that Stefanos himself has announced that his mother will have a secondary role within his team, although we will continue to see him in various events to which the Australian cannot travel.
Apostolos was not in Mexico, but an officiality was missing that Tsitsipas has been in charge of offering in the run-up to his debut in the ATP Toronto 2023. Nor will his father be in Canada, since he is enjoying a well-deserved rest after years and years without missing wherever his son traveled. Tsitsipas explains it perfectly, who reflected on the changes that are coming in his work team and explained what the role of his father will be. “My father is going to continue with me off camera. He supports us and supports the decision I have made. We plan to continue working together, we will do a combination, some weeks I will be with Mark, others with my father. I don’t want my father to step asideHe is someone who has illuminated my path and shaped me as a professional player.”pointed out the Greek in ATP talking about the future in the medium and long term, although he has made it very clear that we will not see Apostolos with him in the coming weeks.
“Right now I have given my father time to rest. He hasn’t had a break like this since I was 12 years old. I think it’s very healthy for him to spend some time out of competition, with the aim of coming back fresher. Sometimes parents are overwhelmed with emotions, that’s something I completely understand. I am not a father, but I can imagine how difficult it must be to see that your son gives his all and that he goes through so many emotions during a game. I love him and I want him to be part of the path we have built together, he is not going anywhere. He will continue with us, he is still there to follow our path and our journey.”
Not a bad ex-professional to have on your side — pic.twitter.com/63NVahWSdf
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 8, 2023
WHY PHILIPPOUSSIS?
The collaboration between Australian and Greek is explained from many points of view. First of all, they both share Hellenic roots, which has forged a very close bond between them on a cultural level. Secondly, Stefanos is not shy about pointing out that a profile like Mark’s, former elite player on the circuitwas very necessary within his work team. “I needed, without a doubt, a professional tennis player within my team. It is something that I sometimes felt was missing around me. It is time to continue exploring new things. I have an open mind, I want to continue learning as much as I can to maximize my career, because at times I have felt stuck.
Mark is also a father. He’s not mine, but he’s been through many moments in his own personal evolution that he can better identify and pinpoint. He is an amazing person. He has helped me a lot, he has been there for me. Even when people weren’t seeing him, he was there off camera, in private. He is a huge addition to our team.“confessed the Hellene, who will debut next Wednesday at the ATP Toronto 2023 against the French Gael Monfils. It will be the second tournament with Philippoussis as head coach, in a union that will seek to sign its first turning point at the next US Open, a tournament in which Stefanos suffered one of the biggest hits of his career last year. Will they achieve success together?
2023-08-08 13:11:20
#Tsitsipas #swaps #father #Philippoussis #coach
