Stefanos Tsitsipas is looking somewhat like his former self after splitting with his father for the second time.
Now working with Thomas Perrin and Patrick Mouratoglou, Tsitsipas recently parted ways with his father Apostolos.
And the Greek star has already experienced great success since the move, with Tsitsipas winning the Swiss Open last month.
It represents his first title in 16 months, and saw him rise 30 places in the ATP rankings following a drop to world number 85.
Now playing at the Canadian Open, Tsitsipas has opened up on his coaching setup, along with discussing others who are coached by their fathers, including Ben Shelton.
Stefanos Tsitsipas admires Ben Shelton’s relationship with his coach and father
When asked in Montreal if being with his new coach feels like a new chapter for him, Tsitsipas said: “Well, it’s a chapter that should have started a long time ago.
“I guess I was too patient with my time and too nice with handling certain things, to take so much time to proceed with the change. But it’s how life works.
“Certain things come at a certain time. I’m very Buddhist in that sort of philosophy. So now we are here, and we are doing it the way I like it. I want it to be done like that.
“I want it to be done with a coach that I am happy with right now. And he’s someone that I trust. Patrick is also someone that is supervising as well.
“So these are the people that have been with me since day one, people that believe in the academy, people that want the best for me, and that’s the most important, working with those that will bleed for you.”
It was then suggested that an emotional charge is added when players are trained by their father, of which there are many.
But Tsitsipas commented: “There aren’t a lot of players that are coached by their father, to be honest, especially today. If I was to count them, there would probably be three, or maximum four. Not that many.
“So that would still be like minority of players coached by their father. The only one I can think of is [Alexander] Zverev, Shelton.”
The names of Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime were then posed, with the Greek ace saying of the Spaniard: “Alcaraz? No, he is not.”
And he added of the Canadian: “Partly. Not really. You don’t see it very often. It’s a heavy relationship. And for some it works, which is great. Like for Zverev and Shelton, it works.
“And sometimes I actually wish, to be honest, I see Shelton’s father. He’s an example to me of how a father should be around his child playing competitive tennis.
“Like he’s the perfect example, and I see him, and I’m like sometimes wishing things were like that, but unfortunately they aren’t.
“But I am a big fan of Shelton. I am a big fan of his father and the way their dynamic works. So I see it as a great example.”
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Shelton is currently coached by his father Bryan Shelton, while Zverev works with his father Alexander Zverev Sr., and indeed his brother Mischa Zverev.
All three players are currently competing at the Canadian Open, where Tsitsipas has won his opener after making it through qualifying.
He now meets Joao Fonseca in the second round, where top seed Zverev takes on Tallon Griekspoor and fifth seed Shelton plays Jenson Brooksby.
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