Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to debilitating back issues 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 alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world following minimal competition post a second-round departure in New York this past summer, he stated continuous medical care is finally showing encouraging progress.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body responds during actual training with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"The greatest victory next season would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."
