The father of Greece’s top tennis player, who stopped coaching him in the summer of 2024, stated that Stefanos has the potential to reach world No.1 and win a Grand Slam title. However, he also noted that if he could turn back time 15 years, he would have placed greater emphasis on his son’s education.
Apostolos Tsitsipas’ statements about Stefanos on the Tennis Related podcast with Christos Antonopoulos:
“Stefanos made some crucial decisions at the ages of 14-15, in front of me and other team members. When we looked into his eyes, we could see he had made up his mind and was ready to dive into deep waters. And he did! He swam, he succeeded, and he proved that he truly meant it. He has all the qualities needed to continue progressing in the coming years. He has a solid foundation, and he can build on it to keep winning ATP titles, claim Grand Slams, and reach the top of the rankings at No.1.”
On his most emotional moment as Stefanos’ coach, he said:
“A moment that moved all of us was when Stefanos defeated Roger Federer in Australia in 2019. Federer was his idol, and it was incredibly emotional to witness him beating the best player at the time, who had won the most Grand Slam titles. That was something unforgettable.
Also, his progression was remarkable. From winning the Next Gen Finals, he went on to win the Nitto Finals the following year. That showed that all of us—the people who supported him, his team—were doing something right. We were there for a reason, and it was proof of his growth. These are moments that Stefanos, and all athletes, should always keep in mind. They should be their guiding light, giving them strength to keep moving forward.”
When asked what he would have done differently if he could go back 15 years in Stefanos’ life, he replied:
“I wouldn’t change anything regarding his tennis career. However, I would have insisted more on his education in certain areas. I would have created more opportunities for him to learn about different subjects that interested him. I think it would have been important for him to better understand life beyond tennis.”
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