🔗 Share this article

The tennis professional disclosed he thought about ending his career due to debilitating spinal pain throughout the 2025 tennis year.

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 and the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his early exit in New York this past summer, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding encouraging progress.

"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body holds up under regular practice concerning my back," commented Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry was whether I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "for the past six to eight months."

"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match pain-free?'"

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for 48 hours. 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 pre-season training without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney in early 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 realizing you had a pre-season without pain – I hope it continues. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the United Cup.

"I have done the work. The most important thing is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."