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Stefanos Tsitsipas has revealed he pondered ending his career because of debilitating spinal pain during the season.

At 27 years old, the player once ranked as high as third globally, finished as runner-up against Novak Djokovic in the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open.

Currently placed 36th in the world after a limited schedule post a early exit in New York in August, he stated continuous medical care has begun yielding positive results.

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

"My primary worry centered on if I was able to finish an encounter," he added, noting the injury plagued him "over the last half a year or more."

"I kept asking, 'Am I able to play another contest 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 begin to question your career's future."

He also reported satisfaction regarding the present treatment regimen after finishing five weeks of pre-season training without any pain.

He is scheduled to compete for Greece at the team event, where they face Team Japan led by Osaka and the Great Britain squad led by Emma Raducanu. The tournament takes place in Perth and Sydney from 2 to 11 January, the week preceding the Australian Open.

"The greatest victory next season is to stop worrying about finishing matches," he stated.

"It is incredibly encouraging to know you completed an off-season without pain – I hope it continues. I want to deliver during the upcoming season and for the United Cup.

"The effort is invested. The most important thing is total belief that I can return to where I was. I will try all means to make it happen."