Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away During Pain-Filled 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about ending his career due to debilitating spinal pain throughout the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care is finally showing encouraging progress.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training responds during regular practice concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "for the past half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."
He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you had a pre-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the United Cup.
"The effort is invested. The most important thing is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
