Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of severe back issues during the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition post a second-round departure in New York this past summer, he stated continuous medical care is finally showing positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I was able to finish a match," he added, explaining the pain had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play in another match pain-free?'"
"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 the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of five weeks of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities in early January, just before the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season is to stop worrying over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you had a pre-season without pain – I hope it continues. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."