Tsitsipas’ Ranking Plunge Sparks Grand Slam Doubts
Former World No. 3 Struggles for Form in 2025
Tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas is navigating a difficult 2025 season, marked by a significant drop in the rankings and early exits from major tournaments. Once a formidable force at World No. 3, the Greek player now finds himself outside the ATP’s top 25, currently sitting at 27th.
Mixed Fortunes in the UAE, Struggles Elsewhere
The lone bright spot for Tsitsipas this year was a triumphant week in the UAE, where he clinched the Dubai Tennis Championships. However, this success has been overshadowed by a general lack of form. At Grand Slams, his performance has been particularly concerning, with only one win across four tournaments.
He suffered first-round defeats at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, and a second-round exit at the French Open. His retirement due to a back issue at Wimbledon further highlighted his current challenges.
Mouratoglou Questions Grand Slam Potential
Renowned coach Patrick Mouratoglou has voiced his skepticism regarding Tsitsipas‘s immediate prospects of winning a Grand Slam title. In a conversation with Nick Kyrgios, Mouratoglou stated,
“Today, it is difficult to believe because the two other guys [Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz] are so much better than anyone, and he is not at his level himself, so it is difficult to imagine.”
—Patrick Mouratoglou
Mouratoglou emphasized the unforgiving nature of modern tennis:
“I think in today’s game, if you want to win a Grand Slam, you cannot have a weakness. It is impossible. The guys will kill you on your weakness, so he has to really strengthen his game if he wants to have a chance. Maybe on clay.”
—Patrick Mouratoglou
Tsitsipas has a long-standing relationship with the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, but talent alone may not be enough. His coach, Goran Ivanisevic, has also pointed out existing issues, noting,
“It’s all ‘I want it, I want it’ but he isn’t doing anything about it. He has to resolve his back issue. I was shocked. I’ve never seen such an underprepared player in my life.”
—Goran Ivanisevic
These candid remarks underscore the significant work Tsitsipas needs to undertake to reverse his current trajectory. For context, Carlos Alcaraz, a player Mouratoglou mentioned, recently secured his fifth ATP title before his 21st birthday (BBC Sport, 2025), illustrating the high benchmark in the current men’s game.
Recalling a Near Grand Slam Triumph
The discussion about Tsitsipas‘s future inevitably brings to mind a pivotal moment four years ago at the 2021 French Open. Tsitsipas reached his first Grand Slam final after a series of impressive victories, including wins over four seeded opponents.
| Round | Opponent | Seed | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| SF | Alexander Zverev | 6th | 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3 |
| QF | Daniil Medvedev | 2nd | 6-3, 7-6, 7-5 |
| 4R | Pablo Carreno Busta | 12th | 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 |
| 3R | John Isner | 31st | 5-7, 6-3, 7-6, 6-1 |
| 2R | Pedro Martinez | – | 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1R | Jeremy Chardy | – | 7-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
His opponent in the final was Novak Djokovic, who was then pursuing his 18th Grand Slam title. Tsitsipas started strongly, winning the first two sets 7-6, 7-2 and 6-2.
However, Djokovic mounted a remarkable comeback, taking the next three sets 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to deny Tsitsipas his maiden major title by the narrowest of margins.
Tsitsipas also faced Djokovic in the Australian Open final two years later, but was defeated in straight sets. The path back to Grand Slam contention remains challenging for the Greek star, with his current form and fitness under scrutiny.
