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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport because of severe spinal pain throughout the season.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule post a second-round departure in New York this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.

"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training holds up under actual training concerning my injury," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry was whether I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."

"I kept asking, 'Can I compete another contest without discomfort?'"

"I became truly frightened following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That is the moment start reconsidering the path ahead."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan 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 tournament takes place across Australian cities in early January, just before the season's first major.

"The greatest victory next season is to not have concerns about finishing matches," he stated.

"It is incredibly encouraging to know you had an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the United Cup.

"I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to my previous level. I will attempt everything to achieve that."