Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas reaches Almaty Open semifinals
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The gist
Greek tennis player Stefanos Tsitsipas beat James Duckworth to reach the Almaty Open semifinals.
The former world No. 3 is climbing back after a ranking slump and a split with his father as coach.
Background
Stefanos Tsitsipas is a 28-year-old Greek tennis player, a former world No. 3 and 13-time ATP Tour champion, currently ranked No. 39. He finished in the Top 10 for five straight years from 2019 to 2023 but has lost both of his Grand Slam finals, to Novak Djokovic. His form dipped amid a back problem and a strained coaching relationship with his father Apostolos; in June 2026 he ended that professional relationship for good, and by then his ranking had fallen to No. 88. A coaching change and better health have since reversed the slide, and he arrived in Almaty saying he is playing better than during his Grand Slam final years.
How it unfolded
- 2021Tsitsipas reached his first Grand Slam final at the French Open, leading Novak Djokovic by two sets before losing in five.
- January 2023He reached his second Major final at the Australian Open, losing to Djokovic in straight sets.
- June 2026Tsitsipas told Greek media before Wimbledon he was ending his professional relationship with his father for good; his ranking had fallen to No. 88.
- July 2026He won the clay-court title in Gstaad, beating Raphael Collignon in the final for his 13th career title and first since Dubai in early 2025.
- Oct 20, 2026He beat Aleksandar Kovacevic 7-6(9), 3-6, 6-3 in the Almaty Open first round, saving three set points in the first-set tie-break.
- Oct 21, 2026After winning his opening two matches in Almaty, he was due to face James Duckworth in the quarterfinal.
- Oct 23, 2026He beat Duckworth to reach the semifinals, rising to 33rd in the live rankings, and awaited Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Who’s saying what
- Player
- Tsitsipas said he is playing better tennis now than when he reached two Grand Slam finals, citing more variety in his backhand.
- Player
- He said his relationship with his father has improved since the split and that he now understands better who he wants to work with.
- Player
- On his Grand Slam chances, he said he is 'stuck a little bit behind' but that his story is his own and not just results.