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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to debilitating spinal pain during 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 in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked 36th in the world following minimal competition since his early exit at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.

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

"The biggest fear was whether I could complete a match," he added, noting the injury plagued him "for the past six to eight months."

"I would wonder, '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 could not to move for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question the path ahead."

Tsitsipas further mentioned satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen following the completion of an extended period of pre-season training 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 across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

"The greatest victory next season would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging realizing you had an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the team championship.

"I have done the work. The most important thing is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."