The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement Amid 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 due to severe spinal pain 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.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition post a early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training responds during regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.
His next appearance for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"The greatest victory next season is to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
