The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he thought about ending his career because of debilitating back issues during the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body responds during actual training with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.
"My main goal for 2026 would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you had a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
