The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Retirement Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about ending his career because of severe back issues throughout the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition post a early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body holds up under actual training with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete another contest pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
His next appearance for Greece at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, just before the Australian Open.
"My main goal for 2026 is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"The effort is invested. The most important thing is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to achieve that."
