The Greek tennis star Contemplated Walking Away During Pain-Filled 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
The tennis professional disclosed he thought about quitting the sport due to debilitating 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 and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule post a second-round departure in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
