Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of debilitating spinal pain during the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his second-round departure at the US Open this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training holds up under regular practice concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [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 being content with 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 at the team event, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities in early January, just before the season's first major.
"The greatest victory for 2026 is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."
