Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away During Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career due to severe back issues throughout the season.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition post a second-round departure at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited is to observe how my body holds up under actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "for the past six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."
He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.
His next appearance for Greece 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, just before the season's first major.
"My main goal for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
