The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career due to debilitating spinal pain during 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 in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit at the US Open in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body responds during regular practice concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I could complete an encounter," he added, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
He also reported being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face 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 for 2026 would be to stop worrying over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
