Apostolos Tsitsipas


Jul 6, 2020
Robert Davis / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Apostolos Tsitsipas is a big man with broad shoulders and a squared chin. He cuts the chiseled figure of an ex-athlete and his hair is thick and the natural salt and pepper color gives off an air of wisdom. By his actions, it is obvious that Apostolos knows what he wants and his actions are driven in a direct line towards the ultimate goal. We have seen coaches like Apostolos before; Toni Nadal comes to mind. What may surprise those who are not intimate with Apostolos or Toni, is that they both share an incredible humility. Their respectful interactions with other persons, no matter their rank or status, speaks louder than words.

Apostolos Tsitsipas believes in asking questions. And he has the industriousness to search for answers. He possesses no insecurities about admitting that his coaching education is a work in progress. Greek philosophy was primarily based on logic and science. So, it is no surprise that Apostolos sought a degree in Sport Science during his university days in Athens. Though his background was a former national team football player, it was in college that he fell in love with tennis.

“A friend in university introduced me to tennis,” Apostolos remembers. “Immediately, I was in love with tennis. It was like a kind of therapy. I could go every day to the wall and play with the wall and see my improvement.”

If it was the release of dopamine which hooked Apostolos to tennis, then it was the adrenaline rush of competition that appealed to his competitive nature. “Then I could go and play a tournament. It is kind of like how life swings. One day good, one day bad. I loved it.” Apostolos drew up a structured plan which would give him a strong foundation to become a tennis coach. At the time, Boris Becker and Steffi Graf were the stars of tennis, and Thomas Muster was on the rise. So, it only made sense for Apostolos to study tennis coaching…
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