Stefanos Tsitsipas has discussed the value of the vast coaching experience that Goran Ivanisevic brings to his team as he addressed the Croatian’s hugely successful partnership with Novak Djokovic.
The Greek star prepared for Wimbledon by playing two grass-court exhibition matches at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club this week.
After beating world No 12 Frances Tiafoe 7-6(9), 6-7(4), 10-7 on Tuesday, Tsitsipas lost 4-6, 6-2, 5-10 to 53rd-ranked Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Tuesday.
Tsitsipas was originally due to play Lorenzo Musetti in his second match at Hurlingham, but Etcheverry took his place after the 23-year-old Italian pulled out.
Musetti, the world No 7, has not played since a thigh injury forced him to retire in the fourth set of his French Open semi-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz at the start of the month.
Tsitsipas, whose struggles have seen him fall to 26th in the rankings, hired Ivanisevic as his coach at the start of the grass season. The former world No 3 lost to Alex Michelsen in the second round of the ATP 500 in Halle in his first event with Ivanisevic in his box.
Ivanisevic, a Wimbledon champion in 2001 and former world No 2, has built the reputation of being one of the leading coaches in the sport.
The Croatian helped tennis legend Djokovic win nine Grand Slam titles between 2019 and 2024, while he coached compatriot Marin Cilic to his only major victory at the 2014 US Open. He has also worked with Tomas Berdych, Milos Raonic and Elena Rybakina.
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Following his match with Etcheverry at Hurlingham, Tennis365 asked Tsitsipas if Ivanisevic has passed on any lessons from his time working with Djokovic.
“Absolutely, yes. We have daily discussions. I wouldn’t say he just has experience with Novak, like it would be unfair to just say with Novak,” said the 26-year-old.
“Of course, Novak is one of the greatest that our game has seen, but he has also worked with other players too, and I think there comes experience too.
“Also, I feel like it’s important for him that he has worked with different types of players because he gets to really see what works best for me, knowing how these different profiles of players have adapted and have done certain things.
“I think he can see more of a variation in his coaching skills and in his coaching expertise and apply that selectively to me in ways that… obviously, I can’t play exactly like Novak.
“I have certain characteristics in my game that stand out a little bit more and certain [things] that need to get improved and get better over time.
“But he can definitely give me a clear direction of where I’m lacking and where I should be focusing on when it comes to my strengths.”
Tsitsipas will face world No 112 Valentin Royer in the opening round at Wimbledon.
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