Tennis coach Ivanisevic criticizes Tsitsipas following their premature elimination at Wimbledon.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world number 26 tennis player, suffered an early exit from Wimbledon after retiring from his first-round match against French qualifier Valentin Royer due to a persistent back injury[1][2]. This setback is not an isolated incident, as Tsitsipas has been grappling with the same issue for some time now.
Goran Ivanisevic, Tsitsipas' recently appointed coach and a former Wimbledon champion, has expressed concerns over the Greek player's preparation and fitness[4]. In an interview given after Tsitsipas' exit from Wimbledon, Ivanisevic criticised Tsitsipas for being "poorly prepared" and lacking fitness, which could be contributing to his inability to recover from injuries effectively and perform at his best level[4].
Tsitsipas' ongoing fitness issues can be attributed to several factors. He has been dealing with a chronic lower back injury, specifically on the left side, which affects his ability to rotate during matches[1][2][3]. This type of injury is particularly challenging in tennis due to the rotational nature of the sport. The injury has been a recurring problem, limiting his performance and causing frustration with its persistence[1][3].
In addition to the physical challenges, Tsitsipas has also expressed feeling "fragile" with his body and battling health issues, which suggests that he may be experiencing physical fatigue[1]. Furthermore, he has expressed frustration and anxiety about his situation, indicating mental fatigue and stress related to his injuries[1][3].
The physical demands of the tennis tour, particularly after the US Open 2024, have been noted as a critical period when Tsitsipas' physical problems began to escalate[3]. This suggests that the schedule and intensity of the tour may be exacerbating his issues. Despite extensive work with fitness and physio teams, Tsitsipas feels he has no answers for resolving his back issues, which compounds his frustration and uncertainty about his future in tennis[1][3].
Ivanisevic believes that Tsitsipas needs to address issues outside of tennis to return to the top 10. However, he did not specify the issues Tsitsipas needs to address. Ivanisevic's comments about Tsitsipas' preparation and fitness do not necessarily reflect his current role as Tsitsipas' coach.
Before joining Tsitsipas' team, Ivanisevic had a short stint with Kazakh world number 11 Elena Rybakina this season. His criticism of Tsitsipas' preparation and fitness should be seen in the context of his concern for the player's well-being and performance, rather than as a reflection of his coaching approach.
Despite these challenges, Tsitsipas, a former world number three, has reached only one quarter-final in his last nine Grand Slam tournaments. His struggles at the Grand Slams have been a source of frustration for both him and his fans, and his recent exit from Wimbledon will only add to that.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/61819477 [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/sports/tennis/tsitsipas-wimbledon-retirement.html [3] https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/35923726/stefanos-tsitsipas-injury-woes-continue-wimbledon-withdrawal [4] https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/exclusive-ivanisevic-criticizes-tstisipas-poor-preparation-fitness-2023-06-28/
Despite his former coach Goran Ivanisevic's criticisms about his preparation and fitness, Stefanos Tsitsipas continues to grapple with persistent fitness issues, particularly his chronic lower back injury, in the sport of tennis. As a result, he has struggled to maintain his top form, with limited success in Grand Slam tournaments.
