The Greek tennis player and former world number three opened his heart at a press conference ahead of the start of the United Cup in Perth, Australia
Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed that he seriously considered retiring from active tennis due to the injuries and pain he felt in 2025.
Tsitsipas made clear he's now pain-free in Australia and has his father Apostolos coaching him again after a brief stint with Goran Ivanisevic last year.
The Greek former world number 3 opened up extensively on his injury woes during a press conference for the mixed United Cup tennis tournament in Perth, Australia.
"There were phases during the year when I was wondering: "Why am I doing this and why am I putting myself in so much pain?" Pain is not a pleasant thing when you're an athlete, and especially when it comes back and keeps coming back. It's one of those things that in the end, for me, it's far more important to be happy and pain-free than to struggle with pain in the sport I love," he explained.
"I'd rather, you know, put an end to it if it ends up going in that direction than suffer all the time.... I just want to be happy with the way I'm living my life, and if I can't fight one day, I guess I'll have to give it up", added Tsitsipas.
Tsitsipas, who is now ranked 36th in the world, also expanded on the mental difficulties of dealing with injury and the fear of doing more harm: "My biggest concern was, can I actually complete a match? That was what was going through my mind for the last six to eight months. I've been thinking constantly: If I win a match, can I come back the next day and play another match without pain?.
"And, I was really scared after my loss at the US Open to Daniel Altmeyer, with my back, because I just couldn't walk for two days. And when things like that happen, you know, you start to rethink your career future."
Other players at the United Cup, which begins Friday with Spain playing Argentina and Greece taking on Japan, include Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka and Stan Wawrinka, who has said 2026 will be his last year on tour.
The tournament format features men's and women's singles followed by a mixed doubles match.