From Top Contender to Struggling with Injuries

Once considered one of the heirs to the throne of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas has faced a challenging period in his career. The Greek player, who reached the finals of the 2021 French Open and the 2023 Australian Open, dropped to 36th in the ATP rankings in 2026, raising concerns about his future in the sport.

“In the last three or four tournaments, I could barely stand up. There were days when I couldn’t get out of bed.”

– Stefanos Tsitsipas

Constant Pain and Fear of Retirement

Tsitsipas revealed that his main concern in the latter part of the year was completing each match without aggravating his injuries further. The pain became so severe that he even considered retiring from tennis. “I couldn’t walk for two days after the US Open,” he admitted. “That made me rethink my future in the sport.”

“I would rather quit tennis if I can’t enjoy it without pain than be constantly struggling with serious health problems,” Tsitsipas declared, hinting at the possibility of retiring if his health didn’t improve.

New Hope and a Preseason Without Pain

Fortunately for Tsitsipas and tennis fans worldwide, the young star has sought medical help and is determined to continue his career. He visited one of the most prestigious sports doctors in the world and hasn’t experienced any pain or discomfort during his preseason training. “I just wish that the good feelings I have remain the same,” Tsitsipas said, expressing optimism about his comeback.

Group Stage and Tournament Details

• Tsitsipas’ Greece is in Group E with Great Britain and Japan for the United Cup 2026.
• Each group stage match includes a men’s singles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles match.
• Winners of each section, plus the best second-place team, advance to the quarterfinals.
• The tournament offers a prize pool of 11 million dollars and ATP and WTA ranking points.