The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Retirement During Pain-Filled 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport because of severe back issues during the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition post a second-round departure in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training responds during actual training with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play in another match pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you completed an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."
