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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of debilitating back issues throughout the 2025 tennis year.

The 27-year-old, who has reached a career-high ranking of world number three, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his early exit in New York this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding encouraging progress.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my training holds up under regular practice concerning my injury," said Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."

"I would wonder, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"

"I became truly frightened 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 the path ahead."

Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan after finishing five weeks of off-season preparation completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The tournament takes place in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"The greatest victory for 2026 is to stop worrying over completing bouts," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging to know you had an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.

"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief that I can return to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."