Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement During Injury-Plagued Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career because of severe spinal pain during the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his second-round departure in New York in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"I'm most excited is to observe how my body holds up under regular practice concerning my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I could complete a match," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete another contest pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question the path ahead."
He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition takes place across Australian cities in early January, just before the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."
