Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he thought about quitting the sport due to severe back issues during the 2025 tennis year.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit at the US Open this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training responds during actual training with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish an encounter," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for two days. That's when you begin to question the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with the present treatment regimen following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal for 2026 would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season in good health – I hope it continues. I aim to perform 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."