Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement Amid Pain-Filled 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 throughout the 2025 tennis year.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his second-round departure at the US Open in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body responds during actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," he added, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That is the moment begin to question the path ahead."
He also reported being content with his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
His next appearance for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."
