Federer, Nadal, didn't allow new players to break through -Tsitsipas' coach
In an interview to Il Tennis Italiano, , the world No. 15s father and coach , commented on his co-operation with his son. Apostolos praised the 20-year-old for his attitude and mentality: Stefanos is a very easy guy to handle.
During the 27 years I worked as a coach, his character is the best one I have ever seen and I do not say it because he is my son. Every coach that saw him practising has said the same thing. The first coach he had at the tennis club and that followed him from 9 to 13 years, now moved to another club and when we chat each other he always tells me that he never met a guy with a better attitude. Apostolos said Stefanos decided to play tennis at ten years of age: We had to reach a friend of mine in France for a summer camp and Stefanos came with me.
It was him to ask me to play the tournament, where he qualified for the eight-player Masters. And he won it. The emotion was so strong that that day he woke me up in the middle of the night: Dad, I have to tell you that I want to become a tennis player, I like the competition and the challenge.
They are feelings that you do not manage to teach too much. As a person, you bring them inside. Apostoloss second son Pedro is instead different from Stefanos: He is a much tougher guy than Stefanos. He is very critical with himself and he does not manage to 100% focus on tennis. Apostolos finally commented on how the veterans of the Tour dominated tennis in the last 15 years: and are not just two absolute champions but two of the strongest players ever who, luckily or not, are also playing in the same era.
The fact of them being so strong, as well as Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, didnt allow younger players to break through. The most notable example is Sascha Zverev who has not managed to do well in the Grand Slams yet. ALSO READ: Rafael Nadal: Worse players than David Ferrer won a Grand Slam title
