Goran Ivanisevic teamed up with Stefanos Tsitsipas ahead of Wimbledon in May, but the renowned coach, who worked with Novak Djokovic for several years, was not impressed with what he saw in the Greek star. The Croatian legend didn’t hold back when speaking to Sport Klub about his new pupil’s physical and mental state.
“It’s simple and not simple at the same time,” Ivanisevic said. “I’ve talked to him many times. If he can sort out some issues off the court, he has a real shot at getting back to where he belongs. He’s way too talented to be outside the top 10.”
“He keeps saying ‘I want, I want,’ but there’s no follow-through,” Ivanisevic added. “I was shocked. I’ve never seen a player in worse physical condition. With this knee, I’m three times fitter than him. It’s really bad.”
Tsitsipas, once ranked No. 3 in the world, has tumbled down the ATP rankings to No. 27 following a tough first-round exit at Wimbledon. He struggled physically during his match against French qualifier Valentin Royer, ultimately retiring after dropping the first two sets, 6-3, 6-2, due to a back issue.
Tsitsipas and Ivanisevic practicing ahead of Wimbledon (Getty Images)
Tsitsipas says he has done ‘everything’ he could
Tsitsipas, for his part, said he was “left without answers” after changing his routine. “I don’t know. I’ve tried everything,” he told reporters. “I’ve done an incredible job with my fitness. I’ve done an incredible job with my physiotherapy, so I’ve maximized on everything that I possibly can do.”
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The 26-year-old also opened up about the physical challenges he’s been facing over the past year. “Since that time, I’ve been battling a war of feeling healthy and feeling comfortable going to the extremes, which has been a difficult battle,” he said. “So I really don’t know.”
With the summer hard-court swing approaching, the big question is what comes next for Tsitsipas. The talent is undeniable, but with his coach raising alarm bells and the player himself at a loss for solutions, it’s hard to tell if he is going to come out of his slump.
