Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement During Injury-Plagued 2025 Season
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport because of debilitating back issues during the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up 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 second-round departure in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care is finally showing encouraging progress.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training responds during actual training concerning my injury," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish a match," he added, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"
"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."
Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
His next appearance for Greece at the team event, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to achieve that."
