Stefanos Tsitsipas admitted he considered retiring from tennis due to suffering serious back pain during the 2025 season.

Tsitsipas was the runner-up at the 2021 French Open and 2023 Australian Open, losing to Novak Djokovic on both occasions.

The 27-year-old, who also reached number three in the world, endured an injury-hit 2025, though, and played just two Davis Cup matches after being knocked out of the US Open in the second round.

However, he believes he is finally seeing progress in his treatment as he prepares to represent Greece at the United Cup.

"I'm most excited to see how my actual training responds with regard to my back," Tsitsipas said, who says his injury haunted him "for the last six or eight months".

"My biggest concern was if I could finish a match. 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."

You heard them right

Day 1 kicks off in Perth tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/MR1csnbYrF

— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) January 1, 2026

Greece will face Naomi Osaka's Japan and a Great Britain team led by Emma Raducanu in their group at the United Cup, which begins on January 2.

Ahead of the start of the Australian Open, which begins on January 12, Tsitsipas is aiming to remain focused on his recovery in order to get back to performing well.

"My biggest win for 2026 would be to not have to worry about finishing matches," he added.

"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."