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The tennis professional disclosed he pondered ending his career due to debilitating spinal pain during the 2025 tennis year.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist to Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked 36th in the world after a limited schedule post a second-round departure at the US Open in August, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.

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

"The biggest fear was whether I was able to finish a match," he added, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."

"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play another contest pain-free?'"

"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 begin to question the path ahead."

He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"My main goal for 2026 would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you completed a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I want to deliver in 2026 and at the team championship.

"The effort is invested. The most important thing is complete faith in my ability to get back to my previous level. I will try all means to make it happen."