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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against 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, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.

"My greatest anticipation lies in seeing how my training holds up under actual training concerning my back," said Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," he added, noting the injury plagued him "for the past six to eight months."

"I would wonder, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to move for two days. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."

He also reported being content with his current recovery plan following the completion of an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.

His next appearance with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team captained by Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.

"The greatest victory next season would be to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.

"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."