The Greek tennis star Contemplated Walking Away During Injury-Plagued 2025 Season
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
The tennis professional disclosed he thought about 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 in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his early exit in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training holds up under actual training with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "for the past six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary following the loss at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, just before the season's first major.
"My main goal next season would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"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."
