The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about ending his career because of severe back issues during the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his early exit 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 training responds during actual training concerning my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "for the past six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with the present treatment regimen after finishing an extended period of pre-season training without any pain.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"My main goal for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you completed an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to achieve that."
