The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career due to debilitating back issues throughout the 2025 tennis year.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his second-round departure at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body responds during regular practice concerning my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
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 with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place across Australian cities in early January, just before the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had a pre-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
