Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to severe back issues 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 in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule post a second-round departure at the US Open in August, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.

"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "for the past six to eight months."

"I would wonder, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"

"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."

He also reported being content with his current recovery plan after finishing five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

"The greatest victory for 2026 is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed an off-season without pain – 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 total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."