Stefanos Tsitsipas sends out cryptic message about being raised by 'narcissistic parents' after "storm of evolution" remark

Stefanos Tsitsipas shared a cryptic message about being raised by “narcissistic parents” in his latest life update. In a post on social media, the Greek tennis player hinted at being taught that “love is conditional” early on.

Tsitsipas is set to commence his preseason preparations ahead of his 2025 campaign. Ahead of his competitive return, the former World No. 3 enjoyed an extended vacation with his girlfriend, fellow tennis player Paula Badosa. The couple visited Iceland and Switzerland during their romantic trip.

Badosa has now returned to Dubai, which is her training base, while Stefanos Tsitsipas is expected to be in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where he resides. Before kicking off his training block, the player reflected on his recent rollercoaster months.

This season, the Greek, who dropped out of the top 10, won his third Masters 1000 trophy at the Monte-Carlo Masters — his only title during the campaign. He also severed professional ties with his father, Apostolos, following their “disappointing” on-and-off coaching partnership the past couple of seasons.

"The past months have been a quiet storm of evolution. Through flaws, risks, and endless possibility, life reveals its beauty-not in perfection, but in its bold unpredictability," Stefanos Tsitsipas wrote on Instagram.

He fondly looked back on the highlights of his year, which included time spent with Paula Badosa. What stood out, though, was the last slide, where Tsitsipas shared a video clip, narrating a child's upbringing by “narcissistic parents.”

"The child of a narcissistic parent learns early that love is conditional. They quickly understand they’ll only be loved for what they do, not who they are. They sense their parents cannot meet their emotional needs, so they learn to perform: exceling in sports, academics or becoming their parents’ confidant and emotional support," the narrator was heard as saying.

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"Deep within lies a profound sense of betrayal" – Stefanos Tsitsipas' cryptic message about parents

Stefanos Tsitsipas pictured with his father at the 2023 Shanghai Masters - Image Source: Getty

Stefanos Tsitsipas hasn’t had the best relationship with his parents if their mid-match interactions are anything to go by. Tension has been palpable within the family, with his father, Apostolos, and mother, Julia, frequently yelling instructions during his matches — a habit that has been called out by tennis fans and experts alike.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist has also often lashed out at the couple in hopes of focusing on his on-court challenges. In an interview in August, Tsitsipas’ mother also threw the spotlight on the player’s strained relationship with his father.

Through the clip shared on Instagram, Stefanos Tsitsipas hinted that he “became addicted” to external validation as a result of his upbringing and now feels a sense of “betrayal.”

"The child abandons their true self, morphing into whatever version their highly critical and opinionated parent deems worthy. Without a genuine sense of self, they become addicted to external validation. This creates a lifetime pattern of people pleasing and self-betrayal," the narrator in the clip continued.

"The relationships turn transactional, always based on what they can provide for others. Deep within lies a profound sense of betrayal. They were loved, yes, but unconsciously used by the most significant person in their world. The anxiety, anger and pain remain."