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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered quitting the sport due to severe spinal pain during the season.

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 36th in the world following minimal competition since his second-round departure at the US Open this past summer, Tsitsipas indicated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my training responds during actual training with regard to my injury," commented Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury plagued him "over the last half a year or more."

"I would wonder, 'Am I able to play in another match without discomfort?'"

"I became truly frightened after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That is the moment begin to question your career's future."

Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete for Greece at the team event, where they face Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities from 2 to 11 January, just before the Australian Open.

"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to not have concerns about finishing matches," he expressed.

"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had a pre-season in good health – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform during the upcoming season and for the team championship.

"The effort is invested. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."