Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away During Pain-Filled Campaign

A competitive moment for Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open

The tennis professional disclosed he pondered quitting the sport 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 in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked 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.

"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under regular practice concerning my back," commented Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish a match," he added, noting the injury plagued him "over the last half a year or more."

"I would wonder, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"

"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.

His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"The greatest victory for 2026 is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging to know you had an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.

"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to achieve that."

Dr. Sharon West
Dr. Sharon West

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino strategies and player psychology.