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 pondered ending his career due to severe back issues during the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his second-round departure in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited is to observe how my body responds during actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete an encounter," he added, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.
His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"The greatest victory next season would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform 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 attempt everything to achieve that."
