Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ nightmarish days might soon come to an end. The reason? He may have finally found the person he has been searching for all this time. After a shocking run in Montreal, this ATP player called it quits with his father. While his participation in the American Slam brought new hope with his new coach, Tsitsipas aims to stick with his decision. But has Tsitsipas’ collaboration with his new coach worked out perfectly?
Tsitsipas had a surprising exit from the 2024 US Open in the first round after losing to Thanasi Kokkinakis 6(5)-7(7), 6-4, 3-6, 5-7. He also lost the Canadian Open to Kei Nishikori 4-6, 4-6. Following his exit from Montreal, Tsitsipas criticized his father and former coach, Apostolos, stating he was, “really disappointed in him.” He explained how his father had failed to listen to him and take his feedback as a player. Tsitsipas revealed that Apostolos hadn’t been “very smart” or “very good” at handling such sensitive situations. After that, he announced their professional separation on social media.
After parting ways with his father as his coach, the Greek player hired Dimitris Hatzinikolaou, the captain of Team Greece in the Davis Cup and the Paris Olympics. He struck a deal with his new coach before the Cincinnati Masters and reached the tournament’s second round before losing to Britain’s Jack Draper 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. A Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa fan page on X shared, “Hatzinikolaou confirmed that he will travel with Stefanos to Asia, while regarding their collaboration he said that ‘we are going step by step and we will see. Everything is up in the air.’”
This Greek player withdrew from the 2024 Davis Cup due to a back injury. While his sudden decision disappointed his supporters, Tsitsipas reignited hope with a hint of performing at the Shanghai Masters. Hatzinikolaou might travel with Tsitsipas for the tournament, fueling speculation of a long-term partnership. This Greek coach is also expected to accompany Tsitsipas during his Davis Cup run.
While the collaboration between Hatzinikolaou and Tsitsipas has sparked hope for the player’s upcoming tournaments, they were connected through a special person in Tsitsipas’ life. As the saying goes, there is a time for everything, and Tsitsipas’ ordeal may come to an end after finding his motivation in Dimitris Hatzinikolaou.
How did Stefanos Tsitsipas consider Dimitris Hatzinikolaou as his new coach?
Hatzinikolaou, the captain of Team Greece, was also the coach at the Paris Olympics. After returning to Greece, Tsitsipas’ family summoned him to join the Greek player in Cincinnati. Hatzinikolaou, a longtime confidant of the Tsitsipas family, happily accepted the proposal. He had coached Tsitsipas’ younger brother, Petros, during his junior years. This Greek coach shares a strong bond with Stefanos as well. He is primarily dedicated to nurturing Greek tennis talents at his academy but has also trained Greek junior players at the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy. His social media is filled with frequent pictures of many young players holding trophies under his mentorship.
Dimitris Hatzinikolaou’s presence in Stefanos Tsitsipas’ life may provide the ATP star with the necessary guidance to make a strong comeback. While winning and losing is part of the game, Tsitsipas’ fans now hope to see him return to his old form after a moderate 2024 season. With Hatzinikolaou supporting Tsitsipas in two important tournaments, the player might find his rhythm and start showcasing his brilliance on the court. Could Tsitsipas’ best days on the court be returning?
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