Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued 2025 Season

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of 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 against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule post a early exit at the US Open this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my training holds up under actual training with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."

"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"

"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That's when you begin to question the path ahead."

Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

"My main goal for 2026 is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.

"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."