After the unsuccessful experience with Elena Rybakina, Goran Ivanisevic returns to the coaching and will prepare the former world number 3: “I am not a magician”
Article by David Istrate – published Monday, June 16, 2025, 14:44 / Updated Monday, June 16, 2025 14:45
Goran Ivanisevic (53 years old) is Stefanos Tsitsipas's new coach (26 years, 25 ATP), a player who goes through a modest season. The Croatian technician spoke about the collaboration with the Greek athlete, but preferred to be reserved about the statements he made.
At the end of May, Stefanos Tsitsipas was defeated in the second round of Roland Garros by the Italian Matteo Gigante (23 years old, 133 ATP), score 4-6, 7-5, 2-6, 4-6. The 26 -year -old player left the Top 20 and continued a complicated 2025 season in which he has a balance of 18 wins and 11 defeats.
Goran Ivanisevic, big words about Stefanos Tsitsipas: “He is a top 10 player on any day”
After the completion of Roland Garros, Tsitsipas started working with Goran Ivanisevic, the former coach of Marin Cilic, Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic, Novak Djokovic and Elena Rybakina. Former world number 2, with a title at Wimbledon in 2001, spoke about his new student.
“For me, he is a top 10 player on any day. At this moment, it seems to have lost a little motivation. Many things have happened and now he has to find it.
I'm not a magician who can make things work after a week. It's a long process, but he's an excellent player. He was in two Grand Slam finals and had so many extraordinary victories so I am not worried that he will not return, “said Ivanisevic, quoted by the official ATP website.
“He's exciting to me because of his temperament. Greeks and Croats have quite similar temperaments. He is a very aggressive player, which I like. I always liked the way he played and his style. It is great to see and offer an input related to his game at work and to the volley. For me, it's a huge challenge and I hope it works well, ”added the 53 -year -old coach.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, world number 25/photo: Getty Images
Stefanos Tsitsipas will play this week at the ATP tournament at Halle
On Saturday, June 14, at Halle, Tsitsipas performed the first training with Ivanisevic. The Greek is preparing for the German tournament, where, in the inaugural tour, he will play against the Italian Luciano derderi (23 years, 56 ATP).
“There's a lot of work. In general, he has no good results on the grass. I don't know why. just mentally. If you put in mind that you cannot play on the grass, then you will not be able to evolve well, because the grass does not forgive you. If you get angry on the grass, the grass responds back. You have to be good with the grass.
So there is a lot to improve. I cannot say what will happen this week with certainty, but in general he can play well on the grass, ”Ivanisevic said about the Dubai champion this year.
