Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away During Pain-Filled 2025 Season
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career because of severe spinal pain 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 36th in the world following minimal competition post a second-round departure at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That is the moment begin to question the path ahead."
He also reported being content with his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
His next appearance for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed an off-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 make it happen."
