Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport because of severe back issues during the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world after a limited schedule post a second-round departure in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish a match," he added, noting the injury had troubled 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 at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by 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 is incredibly encouraging realizing you had a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The most important thing is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
