Goran Ivanisevic reveals what he told Stefanos Tsitsipas in their very final conversation before they split

Stefanos Tsitsipas’ player-coach relationship with Goran Ivanisevic was short-lived, with the two parting ways after two months of working together.

Tsitsipas hired Ivanisevic after his disappointing French Open campaign, where he crashed out in the second round to Matteo Gigante.

The Greek’s first run with Novak Djokovic‘s former coach in his corner came at the Halle Open, where he bowed out in the early stages.

Entering Wimbledon, the former world number three was looking to put an end to his poor form at Grand Slams, but found himself two sets down in his first match against Valentin Royer, before retiring mid-contest.

After it was confirmed that Tsitsipas and Ivanisevic would split following the championships, the two had one last conversation with each other.

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Goran Ivanisevic’s final conversation with Stefanos Tsitsipas

In an interview with HRT, Ivanisevic recalled his last message to Tsitsipas before they went their separate ways.

The Croatian said: “We spoke yesterday, no hard feelings, we thanked each other. He decided to try again with his father, and honestly, I truly believe this – the only person who can coach him is his dad.

“He played his best tennis with him, his dad knows him best, this is a family project. It’s the best decision, I wish him all the best, he’s too good of a player to be where he is.

“And yesterday I told him again that nothing will change unless he sorts some things out in his head.”

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Goran Ivanisevic says his controversial interview with Sport Klub was ‘blown out of proportion’

After Tsitsipas’ first-round exit at Wimbledon, Ivanisevic spoke with Sport Klub and blasted the star, saying he had ‘never seen such an underprepared player’.

He now says of the interview: “It was blown out of proportion, I didn’t insult him. I told him all of that, it’s not like I was saying it behind his back.

“Now it seems like you can’t say anything anymore. I said it honestly, to get a reaction. That’s how this generation is. Unfortunately, that’s how it is; everyone sees it. He feels it too, and he knows.

“If you’re not mentally, physically, and emotionally ready. Especially mentally, to play for hours with the best, then you have no chance of playing tennis.

“He wasn’t mentally ready to play at Wimbledon. I hope he’ll find his path. I wish him all the best. We know the results he’s had; he hasn’t forgotten how to play tennis.”

Tsitsipas will now once again be coached by his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, heading into the US hard-court season.

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