Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away During Injury-Plagued Campaign

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career due to severe spinal pain during 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 at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his second-round departure in New York in August, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.

"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training responds during regular practice concerning my injury," commented Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past six to eight months."

"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"

"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."

He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.

His next appearance for Greece at the team event, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, just before the season's first major.

"The greatest victory next season is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver 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 my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."