Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away During Injury-Plagued 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of severe back issues throughout 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 in the finals of 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, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That is the moment start reconsidering your career's future."
He also reported being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.
His next appearance for Greece 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 in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal for 2026 is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."