Stefanos Tsitsipas confirmed that he reconsidered his career and potentially looked at retirement during 2025 when he spent most of it ravaged by injury.
The 27-year-old has been previously as high as World No.3 in the ATP Rankings but has since plummeted amid injuries and also issues when it comes to coaching with Goran Ivanisevic in for a time after he initially disposed of his father.
But the Greek has since plumped for his father again who also felt the wrath of the law during the past month with a speeding charge which was supposedly his father's fault according to lawyers and Tsitsipas himself.
He has been banned from driving as a result for the year and has had to pay a mammoth fine with the Greek authorities not taking the response that it was Apostolos and saying it was too late anyhow.
Now ranked World No.36 after playing just Davis Cup matches since a second round exit at the US Open in August, he said he is finally seeing progress amid treatment. But whether that produces the goods on the court remains to be seen as he begins his new year playing at the United Cup representing Greece. "I'm most excited to see how my actual training responds with regard to my back," Tsitsipas said as per BBC.
"My biggest concern was if I could finish a match," added Tsitsipas, who said the injury had haunted him "for the last six or eight months".
Near retirement for Tsitsipas
But while he is looking forward to the new year, he said there was a part of him which admitted that he might have to retire from darts after he was slumped out of the US Open by Daniel Altmaier in excruciating pain. He said he couldn't walk for days and thought it was finally going to be the end.
"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."
But while he is looking forward not looking back, he is a bit more down on what his hopes and prayers are for the year ahead with the hope solely to get through matches as opposed to sending grand goals.
He said he has had great feedback when it comes to his body coming into the new year but of course nothing really mirrors match practice so the proof will certainly be in the pudding when it comes to the new year and the United Cup in particular starts that off.
"My biggest win for 2026 would be to not have to worry about finishing matches," he said.
"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 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."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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