Stefanos Tsitsipas’ tumultuous 2025 season took another turn at Wimbledon as he suffered a first-round exit.
After Tsitsipas lost in the second round of the French Open, he was no doubt hoping to bounce back on the grass.
However, it wasn’t to be as Tsitsipas retired injured down two sets to love against France’s Valentin Royer.
During his post-match press conference, Tsitsipas opened up about his struggles with injury and questioned his next steps.
“Right now, I’m just absolutely left with no answers, I don’t know what to do,” he said.
Reacting to his comments, a former Grand Slam doubles champion highlighted the big mistake he believes Tsitsipas made in the lead-up to Wimbledon.
Mark Woodforde is not sure he ‘approves’ of Stefanos Tsitsipas hiring Goran Ivanisevic for Wimbledon
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, 17-time Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles champion Mark Woodforde gave his verdict on Tsitsipas’ post-match press conference.
“I was just wondering, at the end, was he quite emotional there? Stumbled through responding,” he said.
“I’m not going to say he’s injured, the majority of players today, are carrying niggles, certainly at this juncture of the season, given the clay court season is very intense physically, the quick turnaround to play another major event, it poses problems, but yeah, that’s an odd one.
“I don’t know where he goes from here.”
Woodforde proceeded to question the timing of Tsitsipas hiring Goran Ivanisevic as his coach.
“This association with [Goran] Ivanisevic, I think, should be profitable, but I’m sure Goran is just as disappointed, because he wants to be coaching a winner,” he said.
“[Stefanos] Tsitsipas, this is his most vulnerable surface. He does not feature on grass; he is totally at sea at Wimbledon.
“I’m not sure I can approve of hiring someone like Goran at the start of the grass-court season; it’s got to be a longer investment, but that’s probably heading into a different territory altogether.”
Joining Tsitsipas at the Halle Open and Wimbledon, Ivanisevic has guided the 26-year-old to just one win in three matches.
- 2025 Halle Open 1R – Stefanos Tsitsipas beat Luciano Darderi, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6
- 2025 Halle Open 2R – Stefanos Tsitsipas lost to Alex Michelsen, 6-7, 5-7
- 2025 Wimbledon 1R – Stefanos Tsitsipas lost to Valentin Royer, 3-6, 2-6, (RET)
The Australian went on to reflect on Tsitsipas’ fall from grace, admitting what he once predicted the two-time Grand Slam finalist would achieve.
“He was speaking about how the injuries are catching up to him, and he’s struggling to handle those injuries. He’s certainly fallen off the chase,” said Woodforde.
“I thought Tsitsipas was certainly going to be one like [Alexander] Zverev, knocking on the door of holding a Grand Slam trophy, ever since that magnificent win over [Roger] Federer many years ago at the Australian Open, but he has not been able to capture that form at the back end of tournaments.
“He’s had some difficulties within his game.”
With those difficulties in mind, Woodforde claimed Tsitsipas isn’t a ‘top ten danger’ at Slams anymore.
“I wouldn’t have put Tsitsipas in my top 15 of going into the second week here, because he’s fallen out of the chase,” he said.
“Maybe years ago, certainly, not at Wimbledon, but at the other Slams he would’ve been in the top five, but now I won’t have him as a top ten danger player at the Slams.”
Once one of the most dangerous players on tour, Tsitsipas is now at risk of falling out of the world’s top 30.
Stefanos Tsitsipas’ ranking decline
Breaking through to win the ATP Finals in 2019, Tsitsipas finished the year ranked number six in the world.
He finished in the top six for five consecutive years before falling out in 2024, as things quickly unravelled for the Greek star.
| Year | Year-end ranking | Highest ranking | Best Grand Slam result | Titles |
| 2017 | 91 | 87 | 1R – French Open, Wimbledon | 0 |
| 2018 | 15 | 15 | 4R – Wimbledon | 1 |
| 2019 | 6 | 5 | SF – Australian Open | 3 |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | SF – French Open | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 | 3 | F – French Open | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 | 3 | SF – Australian Open | 2 |
| 2023 | 6 | 3 | F – Australian Open | 1 |
| 2024 | 11 | 6 | QF – French Open | 1 |
| 2025 | 26* (Current) | 8 | 2R – French Open | 1 |
Tsitsipas is currently ranked 26th in the world, but could fall out of the world’s top 30 after Wimbledon, depending on how other players perform at the All England Club.
Having failed to win multiple matches at all three Grand Slam events in 2025, Tsitsipas will be eyeing the US Open as an opportunity to turn things around.
The 2025 US Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 24.
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