Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of severe back issues throughout the 2025 tennis year.

The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit in New York in August, he stated continuous medical care is finally showing positive results.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my training holds up under actual training with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."

"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"

"It was genuinely scary following the loss at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."

He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing an extended period of pre-season training without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.

"It provides fantastic feedback to know you had a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the team championship.

"I have done the work. The most important thing is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."