Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement During Injury-Plagued 2025 Season

The tennis professional disclosed he thought about ending his career because of debilitating spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.

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 alongside the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my body holds up under regular practice concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish a match," he added, noting the injury plagued him "over the last six to eight months."

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

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question your career's future."

He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of an extended period of pre-season training without any pain.

His next appearance for Greece at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held across Australian cities in early January, just before the Australian Open.

"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.

"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for 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 achieve that."