Stefanos Tsitsipas Reflects on Team Environment After Ending Mikhail Kukushkin’s Career in Almaty

The professional evolution of Stefanos Tsitsipas took center stage at the Almaty Open on Monday, as the Greek star secured a dominant victory that both propelled him into the quarterfinals and signaled the end of a veteran’s career. Beyond the 6-1, 6-2 scoreline against home favorite Mikhail Kukushkin, Tsitsipas used his post-match platform to reflect on the recent overhaul of his coaching staff and the necessity of a “peaceful” team environment.

On October 21, the former world No. 3 delivered a clinical performance against the 38-year-old Kukushkin. While the match served as an emotional farewell for the Kazakh veteran, Tsitsipas’s subsequent comments in the press conference touched on the deep-seated changes he has made to his inner circle. He spoke candidly about the importance of surrounding himself with the right influences, a move that comes months after he officially removed his father, Apostolos, from his coaching role.

“I’ve learned that a good team is half of the job,” Tsitsipas said during the press conference. “A team that is inspiring, a team that is peaceful, creates peace in the box and in your daily life. It is a really important asset that you can use.”

While Tsitsipas did not explicitly name his father, the subtext was evident to those following his career trajectory. The professional partnership between the two ended shortly before Wimbledon this year, following years of public tension during matches. Tsitsipas noted that while he had been raised to believe hard work was the primary driver of success, he had encountered “not so appreciated things” during his career that led him to be more cautious about his associations.

Since the split, Tsitsipas has worked under a new structure involving Thomas Perrin and oversight from Patrick Mouratoglou. He admitted that the overlap of family ties and professional duties had become a source of stress, stating that he had reached a point where he was easily “triggered” on the court. By separating his father’s personal role from his professional career, Tsitsipas said their relationship as father and son has improved, even as he seeks a more clinical, analytical support system on the tour.

Statistically, the change appears to be yielding results. Tsitsipas began the season with a 16–14 record across his first 16 tournaments. Since the post-Wimbledon adjustment, he has posted a 21–8 record over his last 10 events, including a title win in Gstaad in July that snapped a 16-month championship drought.

The match itself was a somber milestone for Kukushkin, who turned professional in 2006 and reached a career-high ranking of No. 39 in 2019. Despite the one-sided nature of the second-round contest, Kukushkin showed flashes of the resilience that defined his career, saving three match points at 5–1 in the second set before the Greek closed out the win. Kukushkin, a former St. Petersburg Open champion and two-time Grand Slam fourth-round participant, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to retire in front of his home crowd.

Tsitsipas was quick to offer praise for his opponent, describing the win as difficult because of the occasion. “I honestly want to congratulate Misha on this incredible career he has had,” Tsitsipas said. “I don’t feel like there were a lot of things Misha did wrong today because my level was really high.”

With the victory, Tsitsipas moves forward in the Almaty Open bracket, where he is scheduled to face Australia’s James Duckworth in the quarterfinals. For Tsitsipas, the tournament remains a testing ground for his new philosophy of eliminating negative triggers and fostering a box environment built on support rather than judgment.