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The tennis professional disclosed he pondered quitting the sport because of severe spinal pain throughout the season.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up to Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed as the world's 36th best player after a limited schedule post a early exit at the US Open in August, Tsitsipas indicated that ongoing treatment has begun yielding positive results.

"I'm most excited is to observe how my body responds during regular practice with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry was whether I could complete a match," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past six to eight months."

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

"It was genuinely scary after the defeat in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I was unable to walk for 48 hours. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."

He also reported satisfaction regarding his current recovery plan following the completion of five weeks of pre-season training completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete with the Greek team at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad captained by Raducanu. The competition will be held across Australian cities in early January, the week preceding the season's first major.

"The greatest victory for 2026 would be to stop worrying about finishing matches," he expressed.

"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season without pain – I wish for it to last. I aim to perform in 2026 and at the team championship.

"The effort is invested. The most important thing is complete faith in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to make it happen."