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The tennis professional disclosed he pondered quitting the sport due to debilitating spinal pain throughout 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 alongside the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed 36th in the world after a limited schedule since his early exit at the US Open this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding encouraging progress.

"My greatest anticipation is to observe how my training responds during actual training with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.

"The biggest fear was whether I could complete an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "over the last half a year or more."

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

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.

His next appearance with the Greek team in the United Cup, drawn against Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

"My main goal for 2026 would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had a pre-season in good health – I hope it continues. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the United Cup.

"The effort is invested. The crucial element is complete faith that I can return to where I was. I will try all means to achieve that."