Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled Campaign

The tennis professional disclosed he thought about ending his career because of debilitating back issues during the season.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition post a second-round departure at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.

"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear centered on if I could complete a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."

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

"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.

His next appearance for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"My main goal next season is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback to know you had a pre-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.

"I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."