Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain throughout the season.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his early exit at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training responds during regular practice concerning my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," he added, explaining the pain had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for two days. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the season's first major.
"The greatest victory next season is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."