Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to severe back issues during the season.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition since his second-round departure at the US Open this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under actual training concerning my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary following the loss at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for two days. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
His next appearance for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory next season is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."
