The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world following minimal competition since his second-round departure in New York in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body responds during actual training concerning my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled 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 following the loss at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question the path ahead."
He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
