Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement Amid Pain-Filled Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport because of debilitating spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.
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 and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world following minimal competition since his second-round departure in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete 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 walk for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of off-season preparation without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.
"My main goal for 2026 would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the United Cup.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is total belief that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
