Andy Roddick praises Stefanos Tsitsipas' heightened intensity and focus under coach Goran Ivanisevic after Halle Open win.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has faced difficulties in 2025, resulting in a steady fall in his ATP rankings. Once a top contender with two Grand Slam final appearances, the Greek player is now outside the top 20, aiming to rediscover form as he enters the grass-court season. The recent addition of Goran Ivanisevic as his coach seems to have introduced a fresh energy into Tsitsipas’ game, noted by former world number one Andy Roddick.
Andy Roddick Observes Renewed Purpose in Tsitsipas’ Play Under Ivanisevic
After Tsitsipas secured a three-set victory at the Halle Open in his first match with Ivanisevic, Andy Roddick shared his observations on Tennis Channel Live. He pointed out a visible difference in the Greek’s intensity and focus during the match against Luciano Darderi of Italy. Roddick explained that Tsitsipas appeared to be playing with
“a little bit of a different intensity, maybe more intentional,”
along with fewer distracted looks.
He further commented on Tsitsipas’ backhand approach saying,
“But he looks super solid, looked like he was leaning into the backhand a little bit more.”
— Andy Roddick, Former World No. 1
Although Tsitsipas dropped the second set 3-6 after some physical discomfort and treatment on court, Roddick highlighted that the issue was more about Tsitsipas’ physical condition than coaching. He acknowledged the challenge by stating,
“Except this, you can’t really control. It doesn’t matter who your coach is if the body is not working.”
— Andy Roddick, Former World No. 1
The match concluded with Tsitsipas prevailing in a tight third-set tiebreaker, reinforcing a composed performance that impressed Roddick. He applauded the strategic shift, saying,
Image of: Andy Roddick
“This is a great move, a move that he had to make with Goran, and I think this is going to be a great partnership.”
— Andy Roddick, Former World No. 1
Roddick also suggested tactical adjustments for Tsitsipas to maximize his game on grass courts. He highlighted the importance of mixing up shots, especially noting,
“Something I would like to see Stef do… he’s used that chip a little bit more for someone who has that kind of flashy one-hander and is capable, even just the simple chips that are kind of like that inside out up the line to bring traffic back to his forehand, those little things on grass, will matter.”
— Andy Roddick, Former World No. 1
He emphasized the value of varying the backhand strategy, hoping Tsitsipas would become more unpredictable. Roddick concluded with confidence in Ivanisevic’s input,
“But listen, any trick, any advice that we have, Goran [Ivanisevic] already knows, so he’s getting the right advice now.”
— Andy Roddick, Former World No. 1
Insights from Coco Vandeweghe on Tsitsipas’ Potential on Grass
American player Coco Vandeweghe also weighed in on Tsitsipas’ coaching change and its potential impact. She noted that Tsitsipas’ collaboration with his father as part of the team had reached a natural endpoint and that bringing in Ivanisevic, a proven Grand Slam champion, was a positive step forward. She stated,
“We’ve talked about it, his dad being part of his team has kind of ran its course.”
— Coco Vandeweghe, Tennis Player
She praised Ivanisevic’s experience with Novak Djokovic, underscoring how that background could benefit Tsitsipas. Vandeweghe described the similarities between the two players’ styles and expressed optimism about Tsitsipas’ ability to succeed on grass courts. According to her,
“I think Goran [Ivanisevic] had that same kind of game that Stefanos does, power game, big serve, how to follow that up, and how to hide that backhand long enough.”
— Coco Vandeweghe, Tennis Player
Vandeweghe believes the grass surface could become favorable terrain for Tsitsipas, even though he has yet to make a deep run at Wimbledon, the premier grass-court Major event.
Tsitsipas’ Past Struggles at Wimbledon
Despite his promising talent, Tsitsipas has seen limited success on grass, particularly at Wimbledon, where he has yet to move past the fourth round. His recent performances at the tournament show early exits, including:
2024: Lost in the 2nd round to Emil Ruusuvuori
2023: Lost in the 4th round to Chris Eubanks
2022: Lost in the 3rd round to Nick Kyrgios
2021: Lost in the 1st round to Frances Tiafoe
2019: Lost in the 1st round to Thomas Fabbiano
2018: Lost in the 4th round to John Isner
2017: Lost in the 1st round to Dusan Lajovic
However, Tsitsipas does hold a grass-court title from the 2022 Mallorca Championships, where he defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in the final. With Ivanisevic’s expertise, hopes are high that Tsitsipas can add more grass trophies to his career achievements.
Looking Ahead: Tsitsipas’ Upcoming Matches and Opportunities
Tsitsipas will aim to build on his first success under Ivanisevic’s guidance as he prepares for his next match at the Halle Open. He will face either Francisco Cerundolo or Alex Michelsen in the second round on June 18. This stage of the season is crucial for Tsitsipas as he seeks to regain confidence and sharpen his game on grass ahead of Wimbledon.
The combination of Tsitsipas’ natural skill and Ivanisevic’s championship-winning experience presents a promising partnership. Their progress through the grass-court season could be pivotal in determining whether Tsitsipas can regain his top form and outlook in the ATP rankings.
