The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Retirement During Injury-Plagued 2025 Season
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career because of debilitating spinal pain throughout the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his early exit at the US Open in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body responds during actual training with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That's when you begin to question the path ahead."
He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of pre-season training without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"The greatest victory next season is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.
"I have done the work. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
