The Greek tennis star Contemplated Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain throughout the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his early exit at the US Open in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of off-season preparation without any pain.
His next appearance for Greece at the team event, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place across Australian cities in early January, just before the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed a pre-season in good health – I hope it continues. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."