‘Could not walk for two days’: Stefanos Tsitsipas reveals why he considered retiring from tennis in 2025

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece reacts during a break in his first round match against Alex Michelsen of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP PhotoNg Han Guan)

Former Australian Open and French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas has said that he considered retiring from tennis due to a serious back pain in 2025. The 27-year-old said he was left petrified about his future after he could not walk for two days, following his loss at the 2025 US Open.

“I would ask, ‘Can I play another match without pain?'” I got really scared after the US Open loss (to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier). I could not walk for two days. That’s when you reconsider the future of your career,” the Greek said.

“I’m most excited to see how my actual training responds with regard to my back. My biggest concern was if I could finish a match,” he added.

Tsitsipas said that his biggest goal for the upcoming year was to ensure he finished matches and did not have to withdraw due to injuries. He also said he wished to win the United Cup for 2026, before the Australian Open.

“My biggest win for 2026 would be to not have to worry about finishing matches. It makes great feedback knowing you had a pre-season without pain – I hope it stays that way. I want to deliver for 2026 and the United Cup. I went to actually visit one of the best sports doctors in the world, and he so far is promising to heal me. I’m hoping this stays for 2026.”

“The thing that I’m most excited about is trying to see my actual training that I’ve been putting in the last couple of weeks and how it responds in regards also to my back, because my biggest concern has been: can I actually finish a match?”

“I put in the work. The most important thing is full belief that I can come back to where I was. I will try everything to do that,” he said.

Tsitsipas will represent Greece in the United Cup, with the team grouped with Great Britain and Japan, who will have the likes of Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka. The tournament will run from January 2-11, ending a week before the start of the Australian Open, which begins on January 18.