Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered quitting the sport because of severe back issues during the 2025 tennis year.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his early exit in New York this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, just before the season's first major.
"My main goal next season is to stop worrying over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you completed an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
