🔗 Share this article

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about ending his career due to debilitating 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 36th in the world following minimal competition since his second-round departure in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.

"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training holds up under actual training with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish a match," he added, noting the injury plagued him "over the last half a year or more."

"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of pre-season training without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"My main goal for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback to know you had an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for 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."