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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport because of severe 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 to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule since his early exit in New York in August, he stated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.

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

"My primary worry was whether I was able to finish a match," he added, explaining the pain plagued him "over the last half a year or more."

"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match pain-free?'"

"I became truly frightened after the defeat at the US Open [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for two days. That's when you start reconsidering your career's future."

He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of an extended period of off-season preparation without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team in the United Cup, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held in Perth and Sydney in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

"My main goal for 2026 is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the United Cup.

"The effort is invested. The most important thing is complete faith that I can return to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."