Former world No. 3 stefanos Tsitsipas is preparing for his return to competitive tennis after a challenging period marked by a severe back injury that threatened his career. The 25-year-old Greek star, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, has been sidelined as a second-round loss at the 2025 US Open, plummeting his ranking to No. 36 as of January 1, 2026. Tsitsipas will look to regain his form and lead his nation at the upcoming United Cup in Perth,where Greece will face Japan and great Britain.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is cautiously optimistic as he returns to competitive tennis, acknowledging a harrowing period that saw the former world No. 3 grapple with a debilitating back injury and even contemplate retirement. The 2021 Roland Garros finalist and 2023 Australian Open finalist has slipped to 36th in the rankings after a second-round exit at the 2025 US Open triggered a lengthy absence from the tour.
“The most exciting thing for me is how my training is responding to the loads on my back,” Tsitsipas revealed during a press conference ahead of the 2026 United Cup, according to the BBC.
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“My biggest worry was whether I would even be able to finish a match,” the Athens native added. He also told reporters that the injury had “haunted” him for the past six to eight months.
The situation became particularly dire following his loss to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in the second round of the 2025 US Open. – “I couldn’t walk for two days. That’s when you start to question your future in the sport,” Tsitsipas confessed.
Tsitsipas admitted he even considered ending his career. Only intensive therapy and five weeks of pain-free training offered a glimmer of hope for a return to the court. Now, he aims to bolster the Greek team as they prepare to compete against Japan and Great Britain in Perth at the 2026 United Cup.
“My biggest win in 2026 would be not worrying about whether I’ll finish a match,” he emphasized. “It’s a great feeling to go through the preparation period without pain – I hope it stays that way.”
“I want to give it my all in 2026 and in the United Cup. I’ve put in a lot of work. The most important thing is to believe that I can get back to my level. I will try everything to achieve that,” Tsitsipas concluded.
