The Greek tennis star Contemplated Walking Away Amid Pain-Filled Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered quitting the sport because of debilitating spinal pain during the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside 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 in August, he stated continuous medical care is finally showing encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body holds up under actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I could complete a match," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"The greatest victory next season is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he stated.
"It provides fantastic feedback to know you completed a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at 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."