Stefanos Tsitsipas has admitted he seriously considered retiring from tennis as he battled persistent back pain through much of the 2025 season.
The former world number three, now ranked 36th, struggled to stay fit after a second-round exit at the US Open and has played only two Davis Cup matches since. Speaking ahead of Greece’s United Cup opener in Perth, Australia, the 27-year-old said the injury had left him questioning whether he could continue competing at the highest level.
“I’m most excited to see how my actual training responds with regard to my back,” Tsitsipas said as he prepared to begin his 2026 campaign. “My biggest concern was if I could finish a match.”
The two-time Grand Slam finalist revealed the extent of his fears after his US Open defeat to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. “I got really scared after the US Open loss. I could not walk for two days. That’s when you reconsider the future of your career,” he said, adding that the issue had troubled him “for the last six or eight months”.
After seeking multiple medical opinions, Tsitsipas said he is now confident in his treatment plan and encouraged by recent progress. “My biggest win for 2026 would be to not have to worry about finishing matches,” he said. “I completed five weeks of off-season training without pain.”
The Greek star said the pain-free pre-season has restored his belief. “It makes great feedback knowing you had a pre-season without pain — I hope it stays that way. I want to deliver for 2026 and the United Cup. I put in the work, and the most important thing is full belief that I can come back to where I was.”
Greece are regular participants in the United Cup, staged in Perth and Sydney, and Tsitsipas will again be joined by fellow former world number three Maria Sakkari. “We are here again, with a good team and great spirit,” he said. “We are prepared for war — we are Greek. We’re going big.”
Greece have been drawn alongside Japan, led by Naomi Osaka, and Great Britain, captained by Emma Raducanu, in the group stage.
