Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement During Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain during the season.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his early exit in New York in August, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the season's first major.
"My main goal next season is to stop worrying over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you had a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to where I was. I will try all means to achieve that."