The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to severe 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 to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world after a limited schedule post a second-round departure in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training holds up under actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for two days. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
He also reported 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 in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had a pre-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 total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."
