Stefanos Tsitsipas Seriously Considered Retirement During Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain throughout the season.
At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed as the world's 36th best player following minimal competition post a second-round departure at the US Open in August, he stated continuous medical care is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body holds up under regular practice concerning my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play 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 two days. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."
He also reported being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation completely pain-free.
His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.
"My main goal next season would be to stop worrying over completing bouts," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
