The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Retirement Amid Pain-Filled Campaign

The tennis professional disclosed he thought about quitting the sport due to debilitating spinal pain during 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.

Now ranked as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his second-round departure in New York this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding encouraging progress.

"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body holds up under actual training with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past half a year or more."

"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."

He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of five weeks of off-season preparation completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

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

"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.

"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."