Stefanos Tsitsipas is going through an important phase in his career. He has experienced all sorts of ups and downs this season. Tsitsipas had a great start to the year but faced difficulties on and off the court in the second half of 2023.
The Greek player has been able to get past his troubles on tour due to the support from his family. His parents have been closely working with him and regularly attend his matches. His mother, Julia Apostoli, was a tennis player, while his father played tennis and later became a coach. The sporting background gave Tsitsipas a clear idea of how the tour would be.
Stefanos Tsitsipas following routine set by his mother
Tsitsipas has shared how his mother’s hardships transformed him into a disciplined athlete. The young player tries to follow Apostoli’s routine. She was born in the Soviet Union in 1964. It was tough for players to build a career with little facilities. Tsitsipas’s one-handed backhand was inspired by his mother. He followed the same style.
🎾 When your parents support you whatever you do …
And then follow you into work ….
YES THAT 🤣
“At Home (then work … who knows where next) With The Tsitsipases”
🎥 @ReemAbulleil (although we’re guessing Julia Apostoli might be taking over soon)pic.twitter.com/stOF6wQJBW
— behind the baseline 🎾 (@BTBtennis) February 29, 2020
Tsitsipas mentioned that his mother has always been strong, which has brought discipline to his life. He understands the challenging situations Apostoli had to go through during her playing days. She was considered an aggressive player who now gives coaching tips to Tsistsipas on his net game due to her expertise in singles and doubles.
Julia Apostoli and her time on the WTA tour
Apostoli was one of the best players in the Soviet Union. She was ranked No.1 in her junior days and started focusing on doubles on the WTA tour. The 59-year-old began facing difficulties on time when traveling restrictions and conflict with federation coaches existed. But she went on to play the Billie Jean King Cup, known as the Federation Cup, in 1980.
Nuestra corresponsal @Sigrid3198 🇦🇷 en Roma @InteBNLdItalia con la madre de Stefanos Tsitsipas la ex tenista Julia Apostoli🇬🇷 pic.twitter.com/6SXN8U7Vob
— Drop Tenis (@DropTenis) May 20, 2023
Apostoli went on to win five matches out of six in the following years at the Federation Cup. In the 1984 Friendship Games, Apostoli won the bronze in singles and gold in doubles. She quit tennis soon after and studied journalism till 1990.
Marriage with Apostolos became a pivotal point of Julia’s career and life
Before marrying Apostolos, Julia represented the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Stefanos Tsitsipas talked about his mother’s hardships and how she had to fight for everything. He said, “I feel like these people back then went through hardships and tough times, and I can see that from my mom. Life wasn’t easy, and she had to fight for her stuff to get the stuff that she wanted.”
Due to her Russian background, Stefanos Tsitsipas shares roots with Russia as well as Greece. He can speak both Greek and Russian fluently.
Julia finished her graduation in journalism and was not expecting to regularly play tennis again. In 1991, she married Apostolos Tsitsipas and took Greek citizenship. The couple had met at a tennis event in Athens where Apostolos was a line judge in Apostoli’s match. Apostoli also represented Greece and played on the WTA tour for a year before retiring.
Apostoli had achieved a career-best ranking of No.194 in 1990 in singles. Meanwhile, she was ranked No.130 in 1992 in doubles. She is now the head coach of her younger son, Petros Tsitsipas, who plays doubles on the ATP tour.