Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career due to severe back issues during the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist 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 this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding encouraging progress.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete an encounter," he added, noting the injury plagued him "for the past six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"
"It was genuinely scary 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."
He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
His next appearance for Greece at the team event, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"The greatest victory next season is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
