Former Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis has voiced his support for Stefanos Tsitsipas, expressing belief that the Greek star will “find a way to bounce back” following highly critical comments from his coach, Goran Ivanisevic. Ivanisevic recently lambasted Tsitsipas’s preparedness and commitment, remarks that have stirred considerable discussion within the tennis world.
Ivanisevic’s Scathing Assessment
Goran Ivanisevic, who joined Tsitsipas’s coaching team before the grass court season, did not mince words after Tsitsipas’s early exit from Wimbledon 2025. Tsitsipas retired from his first-round match against Valentin Royer due to a back injury, trailing 6-3, 6-2. Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion, told Sport Klub that he had “never seen a player so poorly prepared” in his life. He emphasized that Tsitsipas continuously says “I want, I want,” but Ivanisevic sees no progress. Ivanisevic also stated that Tsitsipas was not physically or mentally ready at Wimbledon, attributing his struggles to “back problems, a million problems.”
Ivanisevic later reflected on his comments, acknowledging that they “hit him a little bit” because athletes don’t like criticism when their ego is touched. However, he maintained that he stands by his words, stressing that tennis is an individual sport requiring both physical and mental readiness. He believes Tsitsipas is “too good a player to be where he is now” and must work hard to reclaim a top 10 ranking.
Baghdatis Offers Support and Perspective
Marcos Baghdatis, a former world No. 8 and runner-up at the 2006 Australian Open, largely agreed with the substance of Ivanisevic’s critique, stating that “99 percent of what he said, I’m pretty sure he’s right.” Baghdatis knows Ivanisevic as a “great guy” who “says things as they are and as he sees them.”
However, Baghdatis diverged on the public nature of the comments. He stated that if he were coaching, he “wouldn’t go out there and say this in the media.” Instead, he would convey such strong messages directly to the player and the team, and if the player didn’t listen, he would part ways.
Despite the public admonishment, Baghdatis expressed hope that Ivanisevic’s “tough love” approach will serve as a “wake-up call” for Tsitsipas. He believes it could “shock Stefanos in a way to come back” and “find the love of the game again.” Baghdatis acknowledged that Tsitsipas is “doubting himself right now, which is normal when you’re lost.”
Tsitsipas’s Recent Struggles and Path Forward
Stefanos Tsitsipas, once ranked as high as world No. 3, has seen a significant decline in his performance and ranking, currently sitting at world No. 27. He has faced a challenging season, with 12 defeats in 31 matches this year, and has failed to get past the second round in any of the first three Grand Slams of 2025. Tsitsipas has also been grappling with lower back issues that led to his Wimbledon retirement and subsequent withdrawal from the Croatia Open.
Baghdatis advised Tsitsipas to take “some time out, some time to reflect, some time to find the right team, not to rush into decisions.” He suggested that traveling alone for a couple of tournaments helped him personally to “find myself back on the tennis court, not to have somebody telling me what to do to find my own way.”
Tsitsipas is set to begin his hard court campaign at the 2025 Canadian Open, held from July 27 to August 7 in Toronto. This tournament will be a crucial opportunity for him to demonstrate a renewed focus and begin his climb back up the rankings, as urged by both his coach and supportive figures like Baghdatis.
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