By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday June 16, 2025
A brand new period has begun for Stefanos Tsitsipas.
The Greek performed – and gained – his first match with Goran Ivanisevic in his teaching field on Monday, defeating Italy’s Luciano Darderi 6-4 3-6 7-6(5). Now ranked 25, the previous World No.3 hopes to rebuild his sport and confidence with the legendary Croatian on the helm.
Ivanisevic, who guided Novak Djokovic to 12 main titles throughout his time alongside the Grand Slam king, cautioned that there isn’t a straightforward repair to Tsitsipas’ sport.
“I’m not a magician who could make it work after one week,” he advised the ATP this weekend, after the pair practiced in Halle. “It’s an extended course of, however he’s an ideal participant. He was two instances in Grand Slam finals and had so many nice victories, so I’m not anxious that it’s not going to come back again.”
Tsitsipas introduced the official pairing on the finish of Might.
The Greek is 19-11 on the season with a title in Dubai.
“Goran’s expertise, ardour for the game, and champion’s mindset are issues I vastly respect, and I’m trying ahead to the journey forward with him by my facet,” he mentioned on Instagram two weeks in the past. “I’m optimistic about what we are able to construct collectively.”
Ivanisevic, a former World No.2 with 599 ATP wins and a Wimbledon title to his title, says he identifies with Tsitsipas in some ways.
“It’s thrilling to me due to his temperament,” mentioned Ivanisevic, per the ATP. “Greek, Croatian are fairly comparable temperaments. He’s a really aggressive participant, which I like. I all the time appreciated the best way he performed, and his model.”
Ivanesivic hopes to “put some enter into his sport, as a server, as a serve and volleyer,” which might assist the Greek on the grass, and on any quick floor. “For me it’s truly an enormous problem and hopefully it’s going to work properly,” the 53-year-old added.
Stef fights by means of 💪@steftsitsipas comes by means of a decent battle 6-4 3-6 7-6 in opposition to Darderi to make R2 in Halle!#TWO25 pic.twitter.com/Qk297rl69X
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 16, 2025
Ivanisevic says that in his thoughts Tsitsipas is a high participant, as soon as he will get his “edge” again.
“He’s for me a High 10 participant any day,” Ivanisevic mentioned. “In the intervening time he misplaced that edge just a little bit. A variety of issues occurred and now he has to search out it again.”