A finalist in two Grand Slam finals (both lost to Novak Djokovic), winner of the ATP Finals in 2019 in London (at just 21 years old!), holder of 11 ATP titles, and former world No. 3.
Since his emergence on the professional tennis scene in 2016, Stefanos Tsitsipas made serious noise — and the above achievements (in brief) are a testament to that. These accomplishments initially placed him among an elite group of next-generation players expected to take over from tennis’s Big Three (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic). But now, those achievements seem like a distant memory.
Especially after a third shock exit at this year’s third Grand Slam, which led him to make the following statement to the press after his early Wimbledon departure:
“As a human being, I have my limits. I need to make a final decision on whether I want to continue or not in the coming months. If I see that things continue on the same path, then there’s no point in competing.”
A 12-Month Free Fall
Now almost 27 years old (August 12), the once-aspiring Grand Slam contender has competed in seven Grand Slams from early 2024 until now, with only one Round of 16 appearance (Australian Open 2024), one quarterfinal (Roland Garros 2024), three first-round exits, and two in the second round.
After being knocked out by Taylor Fritz in January 2024 in Melbourne, the fear among many was that Tsitsipas might drop out of the Top 10 in the rankings for the first time since 2019.
Twelve months later, he’s ranked No. 26 and looks like someone tumbling off a cliff, desperately searching for a branch to grab and pull himself back up.
He may have shocked everyone with Monday’s comments (leaving the door open to retirement), but hardly anyone believes he’ll actually go through with it.
Temporarily stepping away to clear his mind might even be necessary — but a permanent retirement at this age seems out of the question.
Then again, he’s also not playing much tennis — lost in bad decisions, the relentless pressure of elite competition, and an emotional storm swirling inside his foggy mind.
Over these 12 months that led to his current state, Stefanos Tsitsipas has gone through emotional experiences that some people don’t face in a lifetime.
He changed coaches three times. The first split was the most painful: on August 9, after an explosive outburst the day before toward his father Apostolos Tsitsipas following a loss to Kei Nishikori in Montreal, he announced that his father would no longer be his coach.
He was temporarily replaced by Dimitris Chatzinikolaou, who worked with him for about 10 months before stepping aside after Tsitsipas’s first-round loss at this year’s Roland Garros, handing the reins to the legendary Goran Ivanišević.
“I’m not Harry Potter,” said the Croatian, who coached Djokovic for years, making it clear he couldn’t work miracles — and it didn’t take long for him to be proven right.
Because beyond his withdrawal yesterday due to injury (while he was already down 2–0 in sets), Stefanos’ biggest problem is mental.
The First Clear Warning Signs
“I don’t resemble at all the player I used to be. I remember myself, when I was younger, playing with adrenaline — I felt like my life depended on each match. And I think that feeling has faded. Let’s just say my level of consistency hasn’t been great. I know it sounds strange, but I feel like I need to rediscover the hunger I once had, and I’m not someone who feels good or settles for just being average. But I want to bring that back, because back then, tennis brought me great joy. Honestly, I don’t know why I’ve experienced this decline over the past couple of months. I’d even say it’s been one or two years that I’ve felt this way. I guess I’ve been able to hide it a bit until now.”
Those were his words after losing in the first round of the US Open last September, to Thanasi Kokkinakis. The first alarm bell had rung — and it was Tsitsipas himself who rang it, though perhaps not loudly enough.
On November 2, he lost to Alexander Zverev in the semifinals of the Basel tournament and officially failed to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2019, ending his season on a sour note.
“I won’t focus on specific tournaments in 2025. I just want to have a good year with strong results. A season where I can say ‘I’m proud of myself, I gave everything I had.’ Something I can’t say about this season,” he said after that loss.
And just a few days later, he shocked fans again (just as he did yesterday) when, responding to a follower on Instagram, he confessed:
“This season wasn’t my most successful. I found myself in a dark place, and I wasn’t sure if I could continue playing tennis. Tennis had stopped being important to me. Going to tournaments wasn’t important — I was just doing it because I had to keep going. It was strange, because I never expected to reach such a point. But I made it through, and I’m proud of that. It wasn’t easy.”
Back then, he truly seemed to believe that 2025 would be a year of rebirth. But aside from the tournament in Dubai, it’s turning out to be an even bigger nightmare.
“They said my game was sinking… so I got myself a boat,” he posted on Instagram after beating Canada’s Félix Auger-Aliassime in the Emirates, a cheeky response to the haters who had been all over him in recent months.
Alas… as it turns out, the boat he got for himself is still drifting off course — and the issue isn’t the captain (coach), but rather the destination he himself has set.
And when he eventually finds the answer, perhaps the work he’s doing with Goran Ivanišević will start to show on the court, and his smile will once again light up the tennis world.
Just like his face lit up after his whirlwind breakup (May 5, 2025) and reunion with Paula Badosa (May 24, 2025).
“Things are more balanced now. We talk about tennis, since it’s our job, but we also have other interests away from the court that I think help keep us… healthier,” he shared a month after they got back together.
Canali Names Greek Tennis Star Stefanos Tsitsipas as Global Brand Ambassador
Italian luxury menswear label Canali has officially announced world-renowned Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas as its new global brand ambassador, marking a high-profile partnership that blends elite sport with refined style.
The collaboration, revealed on Monday, will feature the 26-year-old athlete in a series of bespoke campaigns, official appearances, and exclusive editorial content. According to the brand, the partnership aims to “explore a new expression of modern elegance” that resonates with Canali’s legacy of craftsmanship and sophistication.
Tsitsipas, celebrated both for his powerful backhand and composed presence on and off the court, will be seen wearing Canali’s latest collections beyond the tennis arena — garments described by the brand as “quietly confident, impeccably constructed, and timelessly relevant.”
Source: pagenews.gr