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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he thought about quitting the sport due to debilitating spinal pain during the season.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, was a finalist against Novak Djokovic at both the 2021 French Open alongside the 2023 Australian Open.

Now ranked 36th in the world after a limited schedule post a early exit in New York this past summer, he stated that ongoing treatment is finally showing encouraging progress.

"I'm most excited lies in seeing how my training holds up under actual training with regard to my back," said Tsitsipas.

"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," the athlete continued, noting the injury had troubled him "for the past half a year or more."

"I kept asking, 'Can I compete in another match without discomfort?'"

"It was genuinely scary following the loss in Flushing Meadows [to Germany's Daniel Altmaier]. I could not to move for two days. That's when you start reconsidering the path ahead."

Tsitsipas further mentioned being content with his current recovery plan after finishing an extended period of pre-season training completely pain-free.

He is scheduled to compete for Greece at the team event, drawn against Naomi Osaka's Japan and the British team led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament will be held in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, just before the season's first major.

"My main goal next season is to not have concerns over completing bouts," he stated.

"It provides fantastic feedback realizing you had a pre-season in good health – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.

"I have done the work. The crucial element is total belief in my ability to get back to where I was. I will attempt everything to achieve that."