Stefanos Tsitsipas has had a heavy ride on the tour this season. He played 75 matches and went on to win 51 of them. Tsitsipas was last seen at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he had to withdraw early due to an injury. He only played one match at the event, losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets. In the next match, he played three games against Holger Rune before retiring due to a back injury.
Tsitsipas was planning to end the season with a victory but could not execute it. He will be eager to make amends next season and wait for his back to heal. Tsitsipas has faced troubles this year on and off the court, affecting his form between the seasons. He is still getting used to the tour and is trying to overcome the struggle.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and his coaching dilemma
Tsitsipas had started the year by reaching the Australian Open finals and looked in good form on the hard court. But his struggles started as the tour shifted to clay events, and a few early exits made his fans doubt his form. Tsitsipas returned strong in the events leading up to the French Open and reached the quarterfinals.
The Greek player lacked stability on the court for the next two months. It was concerning as his form dipped for the second time this season. It was not due to injuries or tough opponents. The root cause was problems on the coaching front. Tsitsipas has had a history of indifferences with his parents, who have coached him since the start. The troubles with his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, became evident.
QD2 of Fan Week at the @usopen
Stefanos Tsitsipas practice with Coach Mark Philippoussis #USOpen #USOpenDaily pic.twitter.com/2yzXBMFeMi— Anastasia Folorunso (@a_folorunso) August 23, 2023
Tsitsipas has been working with Mark Philippoussis since last season, and he split up with him before the French Open. But along with Philippoussis, Apostolos was always on the coaching staff. For the first time in his career, his father was removed from the coaching staff in September. Philippoussis was brought back, but the results did not improve, and Apostolos was again appointed as the coach.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ backhand takes the backseat
The one-handed backhand is a delicacy on the tennis tour at present. In contrast, seniors like Richard Gasquet and Stan Wawrinka are still flaunting it. The next generation of players are mostly using the double-handed backhand. Tsitsipas, alongside Lorenzo Musetti and Denis Shapovalov, has been among the few players using the one-handed backhand.
The one-handed backhand requires immense power and a deadly slice to keep the opponent on the back foot. Wawrinka and Gasquet are known for their powerful backhands. Roger Federer was known for his power and ability to slow down the rallies with his backhand slice. Tsitsipas has not been able to showcase the power consistently. His slices have not been serving their purpose.
I asked Stefanos Tsitsipas whether he would consider using the backhand slice more, and he said “you have to keep it balanced.”
Tsitsipas also said there’s a reason he sticks to the topspin bh: he trusts the shot a lot.
“My topspin bh has saved me & helped me win many matches.” pic.twitter.com/Ex9zPgUSjU
— Musab (@Musab_Abid) August 14, 2021
The 25-year-old has a comparatively weak backhand on the tour compared to other players. Tsitsipas needs to work on his slice and ensure the ball lands in when he tries to hit a powerful backhand cross-court winner. His forehand and service game has been one of the best this year. Tsitsipas won a season-leading 88.64 percent of his service games.
Tsitsipas balancing new love life and coaching team
The tennis tour has seen many couples on tour this year. But Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa have been one of the most active couples in the game. They were seen having intimate moments at Wimbledon and sharing their happiness with the fans. The couple stood for each other in tough times and cheered for each other on the court.
Badosa was seen accompanying in most of his matches along with Apostolos and his family. The Spaniard did not back down when the media blamed her for his losses. Badosa and Tsitsipas did not break away but fought the hate together. Both players have openly admitted their importance in each other’s lives.
Paula Badosa was practicing with Stefanos Tsitsipas’ father, Apostolos, in Mallorca.
It’s great to see Paula back on court & looking healthy. ❤️🙏🏼
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 26, 2023
Tsitsipas has been balancing his professional life well this season. He is back on the coaching team with his father and will surely play better next season. The two-time grand slam runner-up has reflected upon his past and knows where to make the changes to improve his career.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is on a mission to sharpen his mindset
The world No.6 has played tennis since childhood, and the court is all he knows. Constantly traveling on the tour for years and years can impact a young player. The matches affect not only the body but as well as the mind. Tsitsipas had trouble with the coaching and his newly found love, Badosa. He was criticized for spending too much time with Badosa.
The couple has been growing together, and Tsitsipas is not shy about admitting his problems to the public. He shared his struggles on the tour while he was young. Tsitsipas is slowly sorting out his priorities and has become mentally stronger over the past few months. Although his rankings slipped from No.3 to No.6, the young player has not given up hope on his dreams.
The raw emotions Tsitsipas has portrayed this year prove that he is changing. He understands the importance of a healthy relationship with his loved ones. The biggest takeaway for him this season would be how much he has learned as a person more than as a player. The numbers look good for his career, but the time he has spent balancing his personal life means much more.