Stefanos Tsitsipas Contemplated Retirement During Pain-Filled Campaign
The athlete entered the previous US Open as the 26th seed.
The tennis professional disclosed he thought about ending his career due to severe back issues during 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 after a limited schedule since his second-round departure in New York in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment is finally showing positive results.
"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my injury," said Tsitsipas.
"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish an encounter," he added, explaining the pain had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."
"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"
"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That's when you begin to question your career's future."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing an extended period of pre-season training without any pain.
He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament takes place across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"The greatest victory next season would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had a pre-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."
