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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about ending his career because of severe spinal pain throughout the season.

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 36th in the world after a limited schedule post a early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding encouraging progress.

"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, explaining the pain had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."

"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match without discomfort?'"

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to walk for two days. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.

His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"My main goal for 2026 would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the United Cup.

"The effort is invested. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."