The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement During Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he thought about quitting the sport due to debilitating spinal pain throughout the 2025 tennis year.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his second-round departure in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.
"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish an encounter," he added, explaining the pain had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest without discomfort?'"
"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question 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 with the Greek team in the United Cup, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the season's first major.
"My main goal next season is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
