The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport because of debilitating spinal pain 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 alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his early exit in New York this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "over the last half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.
His next appearance for Greece at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities in early January, just before the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the United Cup.
"I have done the work. 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."
