Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement During Injury-Plagued Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about ending his career due to severe spinal pain throughout the season.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his second-round departure at the US Open this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited is to observe how my training holds up under actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play 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 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question the path ahead."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing five weeks of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, 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, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal for 2026 is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season without pain – 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 where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."
