The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign

The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career due to severe spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.

The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed 36th in the world 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 is to observe how my training holds up under actual training with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry was whether I could complete a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."

"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match without discomfort?'"

"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That's when you begin to question your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks 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 British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"My main goal for 2026 would be to stop worrying over completing bouts," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed a pre-season in good health – 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 most important thing is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."