Stefanos Tsitsipas is back on the rise, and his resurgence is nothing short of remarkable. After a rocky start to the season, including a first-round exit at the Australian Open and subsequent losses in Rotterdam and Qatar, Tsitsipas flipped the script with his 12th ATP title at the Dubai Tennis Championships. This victory marked his first title since April 2024, and he celebrated with a cheeky post on Instagram: “They said my tennis was sinking, so I got myself a boat.” Could the floating vessel have anything to do with Novak Djokovic’s former coach?
The Greek star’s momentum continued with a decisive 6-3, 6-3 win over Matteo Berrettini at Indian Wells, marking his seventh victory in eight matches against top 50 opponents this season. Then in Miami he faced an upset against Sebastian Korda in round two. This had many buzzing about his chances at the Monte Carlo Masters, where he’s playing the defending champion and has won the tournament twice before in 2021 and 2022.
But what’s behind this resurgence? A significant development is Tsitsipas’s upcoming partnership with Goran Ivanisevic, as reported by the Greek publication ‘Gazzeta’. Ivanisevic, renowned for his work with Novak Djokovic, will officially join Tsitsipas after the French Open. This strategic move comes as Tsitsipas has struggled on grass courts, never advancing past the fourth round at Wimbledon. With Ivanisevic’s expertise, the three-time Monte Carlo champion aims to rewrite his narrative on grass.
Stefanos Tsitsipas will add Goran Ivanisevic to his coaching team after Roland Garros, according to Gazzetta.
One of the best coaches out there.
Very exciting news.
Source:https://t.co/YsZKIeoQ2k pic.twitter.com/8uX8Yvkklj
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) April 10, 2025
Stefanos has been coached for most of his career by his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas. However, tensions escalated in August 2024 when Stefanos famously asked his father to leave his box mid-match at the Canadian Open, ultimately leading to Apostolos stepping down as head coach. Greece’s Davis Cup captain Dimitris Chatzinikolaou took over coaching duties for the former World No. 3.
Despite a few turbulent seasons and a decline in his standing on the ATP Tour, Tsitsipas has now opted for one of the most respected names in tennis coaching. Ivanisevic previously worked alongside Djokovic for six years, helping him win 12 Grand Slam titles. After parting ways with the Serbian star, Ivanisevic stayed away from coaching for most of 2024—until a brief stint with 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Ivanisevic’s partnership with Rybakina was short-lived due to controversies surrounding Stefano Vukov, Rybakina’s former coach. Ivanisevic stepped away after just three tournaments. Now, he is set to make his ATP comeback as Tsitsipas’ coach immediately following Roland Garros.
Currently, the Greek is navigating the clay season with Carey Abakar by his side, who has been declared his coach for this period. This arrangement has sparked rumors about the future of his partnership with Dimitris Chatzinikolaou. As he sets up to defend his Monte Carlo title, he aims to make a lasting impact on the ATP Tour. After his recent loss in Miami, he’d made his goals clear.
Stefanos on his form in the 2025 season
Stefanos Tsitsipas is back in the top 10 of the ATP Rankings after a stunning win at the Dubai Tennis Championships in March. The Greek star clinched his 12th career title and first ATP 500 trophy, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in the final. His dominant performance throughout the tournament, including wins over Lorenzo Sonego, Karen Khachanov, and Matteo Berrettini, marked a turning point after nearly a year outside the top tier. “This is something I’ve been fighting for a long time,” Tsitsipas said, calling his triumph “final redemption.”
Despite this success, Tsitsipas struggled at Indian Wells shortly after. He started strong with victories over Thiago Seyboth Wild and Matteo Berrettini but fell to Holger Rune in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Rune relentlessly attacked Tsitsipas’s one-handed backhand, exposing a vulnerability in his game. However, Stefanos prefers to focus on his Dubai performance, where he felt “empowered” by his new racket and displayed incisive tennis that he hadn’t shown in years.
Going into the Miami Open, Tsitsipas expressed confidence in his evolving game. “There’s a variation in my game; I feel like I have more options, or at least that’s how I felt in my matches in Dubai,” he said. “I feel empowered playing that way, as I couldn’t do it before.”
He added, “It gives me confidence to know that I can play this type of tennis, which makes me step onto the court with more hunger and work on the things I couldn’t deal with before. Opening these new doors of discovery and thinking, ‘What new things can I do? What can I add to my tennis?’ and not feeling limited.” Stefanos began his campaign against Chung Hsin Teng. Despite a strong start, his journey was cut short in the second round. However, he remains optimistic about his future prospects.
Now, Tsitsipas is set to face Lorenzo Musetti on Friday, April 11! With eyes on his form and his potential partnership with Goran Ivanisevic after the French Open, Stefanos seems poised for another breakthrough. Can he overcome recent struggles and reclaim the crown in Monte Carlo? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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