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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport because of severe spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.

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 following minimal competition post a early exit at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding encouraging progress.

"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my body holds up under regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last six to eight months."

"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"

"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for two days. That is the moment start reconsidering your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

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

"It is incredibly encouraging to know you had an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the team championship.

"The effort is invested. The most important thing is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."