The Greek tennis star Contemplated Retirement Amid Injury-Plagued Campaign
Stefanos Tsitsipas was the 26th seed at last year's US Open
The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career due to debilitating back issues throughout the season.
The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.
Currently placed 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding encouraging progress.
"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," the athlete continued, 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 after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for two days. That's when you begin to question the path ahead."
Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.
He is scheduled to compete for Greece in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.
"My main goal next season would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.
"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the team championship.
"I have done the work. The most important thing is complete faith that I can return to where I was. I will try all means to achieve that."
