The Greek tennis star Contemplated Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled 2025 Season

Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport because of debilitating spinal pain throughout the 2025 tennis year.

The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule post a early exit in New York this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my training responds during regular practice concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "for the past six to eight months."

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

"It was genuinely scary following the loss at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."

He also reported being content with 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, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the United Cup.

"The effort is invested. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."