Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement During Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of debilitating 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 alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule post a second-round departure at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"I'm most excited is to observe how my body responds during regular practice concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish an encounter," he added, noting the injury had troubled 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 was unable to move for two days. 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.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," 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 complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
