Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of debilitating spinal pain 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.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his second-round departure at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body responds during actual training with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
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 for Greece at the team event, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"My main goal for 2026 would be to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
