Tsitsipas subtly criticizes Ivan as not being a good coach, bluntly stating he avoids South American tournaments due to insufficient appearance fees.

Following his early defeat in Dubai, Tsitsipas is set to drop out of the top 40 rankings, a position he hasn't been outside since 2018. Yet, rather than refocusing on his game, he has been making waves through a series of media statements.

In a recent interview, Tsitsipas took aim at his former coach, Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, implying his reputation was overrated, while also admitting the sole reason he skips South American events is financial.

After his Dubai loss, Tsitsipas spoke to the press about his current team dynamics, shifting the topic to a past, unpleasant collaboration: "My team feels great now, everyone knows their role. I sense no anxiety within the group. There was a period of anxiety before. New faces and members brought confusion, not clarity."

He further admitted regret over those hasty decisions: "What I learned is that being a great tennis player, having had a successful career, doesn't automatically make someone a good coach. That's my takeaway. Sometimes the right person for you isn't the world's best player, a Grand Slam champion, or a sporting legend. It can be those without a big name in the circle who bring out your best."

Although he never named anyone, it's widely believed his comments targeted the 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, who briefly coached him for just two months last year. The timing is sensitive, as the Croatian recently announced coaching French rising star Arthur Fils.

Looking back at their short-lived partnership, it ended poorly. In May 2025, Tsitsipas brought Ivanisevic on board for a breakthrough, but he withdrew injured from the first round of Wimbledon. The outspoken Ivanisevic publicly criticized his then-player: "With my knees now, I'm three times healthier than him. It was terrible. I've never seen a player so unprepared in my life."

These remarks caused a major stir at the time. Patrick Mouratoglou, who previously coached Tsitsipas, publicly criticized Ivanisevic: "Going to the media to criticize your player isn't coaching. It's publicly killing that person."

The pair soon parted ways. Tsitsipas posted a somewhat diplomatic message on social media calling it a "brief but intense experience." However, in private interviews, he used stronger language, saying it was "hard to be with a dictator." Bringing this up now shows the wounds haven't fully healed.

Tsitsipas's comments sparked debate on tennis forums. Supporters agreed with his honesty: "Ivan was indeed out of line; publicly shaming a player is a major no-no for a coach. Mouratoglou was right." Critics weren't convinced: "Ranked outside the top 40 and still has time for verbal spats? He should fix his serve first." "He criticizes Ivan, but at least Ivan coached Djokovic to success. What credentials does Tsitsipas have to question a Grand Slam champion's caliber?" Others offered a balanced view: "Neither is wrong; they were just a bad fit. Ivan needs a machine-like disciplinarian like Djokovic, while Tsitsipas needs more emotional support. They were incompatible."

If his coaching remarks were an emotional release, his explanation about his tournament schedule laid bare the commercial realities of professional tennis.

In an interview with Clay Magazine, Tsitsipas admitted he has never played the February clay-court events in South America, not due to surface or scheduling, but because the financial offers weren't good enough.

"I have never received a good invitation to go there; when the economic gap is significant, you really have no choice but to stick with what supports your career," Tsitsipas stated bluntly.

He compared conditions in the Middle East and South America: "Frankly, from an economic standpoint, my choice to play elsewhere over South America is understandable. All players consider guaranteed money when choosing tournaments; that's tennis. South America has never offered me conditions good enough to seriously consider. Appearance fees in the Middle East have always been much higher. European events also offer strong financial incentives. It matters."

Statistics show that while both are ATP 500 events, the champion's prize money in Dubai this week is nearly $200,000 higher than in Acapulco. For a star of Tsitsipas's level, appearance fees often far exceed the prize money itself.

However, he expressed regret towards South American fans: "I have a special passion for South America, sometimes I have to set it aside, but when the financial difference is huge, you have no choice. I would love to play there. Going to South America has always been a dream, and I've heard it's incredible. I also have many fans there."

Tsitsipas's "money talk" also ignited social media. One user commented: "At least he didn't use the cliché 'spending time with family.' Pro sports is a business; being honest is real."

Others felt differently: "We know it's true, but saying it out loud hurts. South American fans are so passionate, this is heartbreaking." "His dream is to go to South America, but his wallet says no." Some argued: "A player's career is short; maximizing earnings is logical. Blame the South American tournaments for being poor or the Middle East for being too rich."

With his Dubai title defense failed, Tsitsipas's ranking will drop to around No. 43 next week, a challenge he hasn't faced since his junior days. His controversial statements seem like both a break from past failures and a step toward rebuilding his future.

Whether subtly criticizing a Grand Slam champion coach or openly embracing financial priorities, Tsitsipas is redefining his career path in his own way. However, in tennis, the final word is always spoken on the court. If he can't reverse his slump, these off-court noises will remain just background static to his decline.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)