Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Walking Away During Injury-Plagued Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career because of severe back issues throughout the season.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist 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 early exit at the US Open this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care is finally showing encouraging progress.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," commented Tsitsipas.
"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "for the past six to eight months."
"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"
"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for two days. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."
He also reported being content with his current recovery plan after finishing five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.
His next appearance for Greece in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed a pre-season without pain – 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 total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to make it happen."
