The Greek tennis star Contemplated Walking Away Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign

Stefanos Tsitsipas in action

The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.

The tennis professional disclosed he thought about ending his career because of debilitating 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 in the finals of the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked 36th in the world following minimal competition post a second-round departure at the US Open this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my training holds up under actual training concerning my back," commented Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past six to eight months."

"I would wonder, 'Can I compete another contest pain-free?'"

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

"The greatest victory next season would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.

"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you completed a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform 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 try all means to make it happen."

Dustin Jackson
Dustin Jackson

A passionate casino analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online slots and sharing gaming strategies for German players.