The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement During Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career due to debilitating back issues throughout the 2025 tennis year.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Now ranked as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his early exit in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated 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 back," said Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry was whether I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain plagued him "for the past half a year or more."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."
He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.
"My main goal for 2026 is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is complete faith in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."
