Stefanos Tsitsipas has been through a difficult season and now the jury is out on whether he can return to his best level.
The Greek player was a consistent top 10 player before losing his place in this elite group for the first time since he entered it back in 2019.
Since reaching the Australian Open final in January 2023, the 26-year-old has struggled and has won just two title titles in that time.
His struggles on court in 2024 are perhaps connected to his issues off the court. But it remains to be seen if Stefanos Tsitsipas can find his best tennis again at the end of this year and going into 2025.
Sky Sports commentators debate whether Stefanos Tsitsipas can become a top five player again
Tsitsipas was known for his consistency which kept him in the top 10 for such a long period of time. He reached a career high ranking of number three back in 2021, the year he was just one set away from winning the French Open before Novak Djokovic came storming back to claim the title.
Tsitsipas is a long way off that form at present, and following the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, Djokovic still being a threat and the consistency of other players like Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, it is tough to see Tsitsipas reaching that level again unless drastic improvements are made.
This is what Sky Sports commentator Adam Fielder thinks, as he believes Tsitsipas will make it back into the world’s top five.
“I would say he becomes a top five player again. I just think when he’s on, the damage he can do with that serve and the plus one forehand,” he said during Tsitsipas’ victory over Kei Nishikori at the Shanghai Masters.
“I know obviously he’s had struggles on the return but he’s always had struggles on the return. I just think mentally this year has been tough, with everything that is going on behind the scenes with dad and obviously getting rid of his dad as his coach.
“Hopefully when he finds a little bit more stability off the court, I think we’ll start seeing the best of the Greek again.”
However, his co-commentator Barry Cowan, thinks those days are now behind Tsitsipas. “If you were going to really push me, I think he can get back in the top 10, in terms of the race maybe, but not the top five,” the 50-year-old said.
Stefanos Tsitsipas provides a coaching update
Tsitsipas has been going through changes to his team which began when he ended his coaching relationship with father Apostolos Tsitsipas in August.
The announcement came following his defeat to Nishikori at the Canadian Open. He hired Dimitris Chatzinikolaou as a temporary coach, but their relationship has become more long-term.
Tsitsipas has since confirmed that Chatzinikolaou, the Greece Davis Cup captain, will remain his coach at least until the conclusion of the 2025 season.
“He’s my coach for the remainder of the season and for the next year as well,” Tsitsipas told Tennis TV. “We’ve decided that and it’s not really going to change so far. I made this decision and I really think he’s the person that I have the full trust to be by my side.”
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