🔗 Share this article Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued 2025 Season The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed. The tennis professional disclosed he thought about quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year. At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against 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 second-round departure at the US Open this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results. "My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body responds during actual training with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas. "The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past six to eight months." "I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'" "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 start reconsidering the path ahead." Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of pre-season training without any pain. His next appearance 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 for 2026 is to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated. "It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had a pre-season without pain – I hope it continues. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup. "I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will try all means to achieve that."