Stefanos Tsitsipas and Mark Philippoussis worked together over two separate spells in a tumultuous partnership.
Tsitsipas was first joined by two-time Grand Slam finalist Philippoussis in 2022, and they worked together until May 2023.
This first spell produced some impressive results, with Philippoussis helping Tsitsipas reach the Australian Open final.
They joined forces once again in August 2023, but they parted ways once again later that month after Tsitsipas lost in the first round of the US Open.
Mark Philippoussis explains what it was really like to coach Stefanos Tsitsipas
Philippoussis has looked back on his partnership with Tsitsipas on the latest episode of the Australian Open podcast and has discussed both the highs and the lows.
In this same episode, Philippoussis revealed that he still enjoys watching tennis, but he has no plans to return to the coaching circuit after splitting from Tsitsipas.
“It was almost two years I was travelling with Tsitsipas and I enjoyed my time with him,” said Philippoussis. “That connection of the Greek background I have, I speak Greek, so I was able to communicate with him.
“It was an incredible experience to be honest. Very stressful. It’s a lot easier playing than coaching, where you can control what you are doing. Whereas coaching you have no control. Of course, the whole point and the goal is to get them ready as much as possible on the practice court, warming up for the match and prepare them as much as you can so they can step out and do what they have to do.
“It was very nerve wracking to be honest with you. I enjoyed the experience. But travelling and being away from the family was difficult for me, so it’s not something I’m interested in doing again, being on the Tour, especially where I am now in my life. I don’t like missing out on things with my family, like birthdays or events, but that was something I really enjoyed at the time.”
What reason did Stefanos Tsitsipas give for parting ways with Mark Philippoussis?
Philippoussis appears to reflect back on his partnership with Tsitsipas positively, but their split in August 2023 was very abrupt.
At the time, Tsitsipas suggested that the reason he decided to part ways with Philippoussis was to bring his father back to the forefront.
“Mark Philippoussis is not part of the team anymore,” Tsitsipas said at the time. “I wanted to try with a coach and I wanted to see how that might work. It was a little bit off-tune in many ways and not having the presence of my dad there sort of felt like I was losing part of my identity as a player.
“I wasn’t able to adjust to the new form or ways or teaching or methods that were applied by Mark, who I admire and liked watching a lot on TV when I was younger.”
Despite making this decision, Tsitsipas has since worked with Goran Ivanisevic, but like Philippoussis that partnership was cut short.
There appears to be less friendliness in this split, with Tsitsipas’ father calling out Ivanisevic’s comments recently.
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