The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement During Pain-Filled Campaign

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about ending his career due to severe spinal pain during 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 36th in the world following minimal competition since his second-round departure at the US Open in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding encouraging progress.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my training responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled 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 at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."

He also reported being content with the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of off-season preparation completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.

"My main goal for 2026 would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you completed an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the team championship.

"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."