The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled Campaign

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career due to severe back issues throughout the 2025 tennis year.

The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his second-round departure at the US Open this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.

"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish an encounter," he added, noting the injury plagued him "for the past six to eight months."

"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"

"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.

"My main goal next season is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the United Cup.

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