The Greek tennis star Contemplated Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of 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.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his second-round departure in New York in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training holds up under regular practice concerning my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury 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 at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for two days. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities 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 completed an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."