Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement Amid Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career because of debilitating 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 in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his early exit in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited is to observe how my training responds during actual training with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete an encounter," he added, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.
His next appearance for Greece at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"My main goal next season is to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to achieve that."
