Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away During Pain-Filled Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport due to debilitating spinal pain throughout the 2025 tennis year.
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 alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition since his second-round departure at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training responds during regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I was able to finish a match," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete another contest pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question the path ahead."
He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen following the completion of five weeks of off-season preparation without any pain.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place 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 over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you had a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
