Stefanos Tsitsipas Faces License Suspension After Father’s Speeding Blunder
If you thought your relationship with your parents was complicated, you might want to spare a thought for Stefanos Tsitsipas right now. The Greek tennis star has had, to put it mildly, a pretty rough go of it lately. Between on-court struggles and a high-profile split with Paula Badosa, 2025 hasn’t exactly been a highlight reel. But just when you think the drama is confined to the ATP tour, it follows him onto the highway—specifically, a highway he wasn’t even driving on.
In a turn of events that sounds like a subplot from a bad sitcom, the World No. 4 is reportedly set to lose his driver’s license for an entire year. The reason? His dad, Apostolos Tsitsipas, decided to treat a public road like a Formula 1 circuit.
The Incident: A Lotus, A Dad, and 210 km/h
Let’s set the scene. It’s late September. Stefanos isn’t even in Greece; he’s off on a safari in Africa, presumably trying to clear his head and get away from the noise. Back home, his father and coach, Apostolos, takes the keys to Stefanos’ Lotus.
Now, we all know the Tsitsipas family is intense, but Apostolos apparently took that intensity to the asphalt. Traffic cameras on the Attiki Odos highway clocked the Lotus doing a staggering 210 km/h (about 130 mph). For context, the speed limit there is 120 km/h. Doing nearly double the speed limit isn’t just “being in a hurry”; that is reckless endangerment territory.
Naturally, this triggered an automatic electronic fine of €2,000 and a mandatory one-year license suspension. But here is where the story shifts from “irresponsible driving” to “bureaucratic nightmare.”
Why Tsitsipas is Taking the Fall
You might be asking the obvious question: If Apostolos was driving, why is Stefanos losing his license?
It comes down to a technicality that will make anyone who hates paperwork scream into a pillow. According to reports from Greek media outlets like Protothema, there is a strict seven-day window to appeal traffic violations in Greece. If you don’t contest it or clarify who was driving within that week, the registered owner of the vehicle takes the heat.
Apostolos eventually showed up at the Attica Traffic Police Headquarters. He brought receipts proving he paid the fine. He admitted he was the one behind the wheel. He even offered to surrender his own license to save his son the hassle.
The police’s response? “Too late.”
Because that seven-day window had slammed shut, the law views the registered owner—Stefanos—as the liable party. The police commander reportedly informed Apostolos that it didn’t matter if he confessed; the procedural deadline had passed. As a result, Stefanos is expected to personally surrender his license for 12 months.
A Year of Passenger Princess Status
There is a profound, painful irony here. Stefanos Tsitsipas is getting grounded for something he didn’t do, while he was literally on a different continent looking at elephants.
This adds yet another layer to the often scrutinized dynamic between Stefanos and Apostolos. They are known for their volatile on-court relationship, with Stefanos frequently shouting at his box and Apostolos offering constant, sometimes unauthorized, coaching. Now, that “father knows best” attitude has seemingly spilled over into vehicle management with disastrous results.
Imagine coming home from a vacation to find out you can’t drive your own supercar because your dad missed a paperwork deadline after joyriding in it. It’s maddening.
What Comes Next for the Tennis Star?
Stefanos’ lawyer, Thanasis Papathanasiou, initially tried to do damage control, releasing a statement saying the matter was “resolved” and confirming a third party was driving. And technically, he wasn’t lying—the fine is paid. But the license issue seems to be a done deal, according to the traffic police.
Fortunately for Tsitsipas, he spends the vast majority of his time in Monte Carlo or traveling the globe for the ATP tour, so a suspension of his Greek license might not cripple his daily life completely. However, he will eventually have to return to Greece to face the music and hand over the card.
It’s a harsh penalty for a crime he didn’t commit, but it serves as a valuable lesson for the rest of us: Don’t let your dad drive the Lotus. And if he does, make sure he checks the mail for speeding tickets while you’re on safari.
