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This season hasn’t gone Stefanos Tsitsipas’ way. A back injury has trailed him since that Wimbledon opener he couldn’t play, and the problem has only deepened. He’s skipped several events since his second-round exit at the US Open and even pulled out of the Davis Cup qualifiers before the Asian swing. A Shanghai Masters comeback looked promising, but he withdrew moments before his first match. Then last week, he returned for the Six Kings Slam, only to fall in his opening round to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. Now, as the Vienna Open gets underway, the Greek arrives with more bad news. On Tuesday, as the round of 32 matches kicked off in Austria for the ATP 500 event, Stefanos was announced to have withdrawn ahead of his opener. He was supposed to face the fourth seed, Lorenzo Musetti, who ended up playing Hamad Medjedovic instead. Concern is growing again for the Greek. Tennis journalist Jose Morgado noted that Tsitsipas has now withdrawn from a third consecutive tournament after Tokyo and Shanghai. He did play the Six Kings Slam, though. As Morgado put it, “Just hoping he can find something and comeback to a decent level in 2026…” Is it his health? There’s still no official statement from Stefanos Tsitsipas yet. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad In the build-up to the Shanghai Masters, Tsitsipas was again battling that stubborn back injury that has followed him through much of the season and beyond. The same issue that sidelined him at Wimbledon resurfaced during the Davis Cup and flared up again just as he was preparing for his opener against Nuno Borges in Shanghai. ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad He broke the news directly to fans on social media, writing, “Hi everyone, I’ve decided to withdraw from the Shanghai Masters due to a physical issue. It’s always a pleasure to play here, the atmosphere and support from the Chinese fans mean a great deal to me. I’m sorry I can’t continue this time, but I’ll focus on recovery and look forward to returning stronger. Thank you for your continued support.” His appearance at the Six Kings Slam, however, sparked hope that maybe he was feeling better. Although he lost to Sinner after completing the match, he seemed to struggle physically throughout. He went down 2-6, 3-6. Earlier rumors claimed he’d undergone hernia surgery, but days later he shut that down as “fake news.” On September 22, he posted on Instagram, “Dear friends and supporters, In light of recent reports, I would like to clarify that I have not undergone back surgery and I am doing well. I am deeply grateful for your kind messages and continued support. Your concern means a great deal to me.” Now, with him out of the Vienna Open, could he be eyeing a bigger prize? Only time will tell. It’s been a rough season for him, no doubt. Even the Greek knows it. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports ADVERTISEMENT Article continues below this ad Stefanos Tsitsipas speaks up about his turbulent 2025 season Tsitsipas’ quick stop in Riyadh may not have gone as planned, but it still offered him a golden stage to make a statement. The exhibition was his chance to reset, rebuild some confidence, and maybe start salvaging a tricky 2025 season. After losing to Jannik Sinner, the 27-year-old Greek was open in his post-match press conference about what’s been holding him back this year. When asked what he needs to return to the world’s top five, Stefanos Tsitsipas didn’t hesitate. “I need a healthy body. I’ve been discussing this with my team,” he said. “I need a healthy body to give myself more chances to maybe rebound and be back in the top five. If I’m not going to be healthy, it’s going to be a very difficult task for me to be at the top of my game again.” Those words summed up a season where physical struggles have often overshadowed his talent. Since January, Tsitsipas has recorded 22 wins and 18 losses, a mixed bag that includes a bright spot in Dubai where he lifted a trophy. That win aside, the former world number three hasn’t looked like the same fiery competitor from past seasons. “This is the truth. This is the reality. I think everyone agrees with me. There’s not a single person who disagrees, and that has been the biggest concern in the last couple of months,” he admitted bluntly. Even Novak Djokovic weighed in earlier this year when Tsitsipas started working with Goran Ivanisevic, Djokovic’s former coach from 2018 to March 2024. Many expected that partnership to spark something new, but it fizzled out after less than two months. “I’m sure he can help any tennis player, and especially Stefanos, mentally,” Djokovic said at the time. “I can see that Stefanos has bigger fluctuations in that regard now; he doubts his game, it’s visible… I believe Goran can guide him a bit and draw his attention to the right things.” However, that wasn’t the case. As Goran exited two months later and Tsitsipas turned back to a familiar face: his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas. Still, recent months haven’t been easy. Injury setbacks have made it difficult to determine whether coaching changes are truly the issue. As he explained, “My body has not been where I want it to be. Call it chronic overtraining, overuse, or the demand of the tour. I don’t know what it is. I wish I had an answer, but I have played a lot of matches in my life, and my body is feeling it at this very moment.” With the season winding down, the big question is: will Stefanos Tsitsipas shut it down early, or does he have one more run left in him? Drop your thoughts below!
