Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued 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 debilitating back issues throughout the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition post a early exit in New York this past summer, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under actual training with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," he added, noting the injury plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of pre-season training without any pain.
His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory next season would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to achieve that."
