The Greek tennis star Seriously Considered Retirement During Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered quitting the sport because of debilitating spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition since his second-round departure in New York this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body holds up under actual training with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete 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 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 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory for 2026 is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you had a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
