Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away During Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered quitting the sport because of severe spinal pain throughout the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up to 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 in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care is finally showing positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training responds during regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete a match," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"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's when you start reconsidering your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to achieve that."
