Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away During Pain-Filled 2025 Season
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport because of severe spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world after a limited schedule post a second-round departure in New York in August, he stated continuous medical care is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited is to observe how my training responds during regular practice with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."
He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, just before the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory next season is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."