🔗 Share this article

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of severe back issues during the season.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against 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 that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.

"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training responds during regular practice concerning my injury," commented Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I could complete a match," he added, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."

"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match without discomfort?'"

"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for two days. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"The greatest victory for 2026 is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.

"The effort is invested. The most important thing is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will try all means to achieve that."