Stefanos Tsitsipas’s 2025 Season Overview
Stefanos Tsitsipas’s tumultuous 2025 season has taken a turn for the worse following a surgical procedure aimed at addressing a long-term physical ailment. The Greek tennis star, who currently holds the top rank in Greece, last graced the court at the 2025 US Open but faced an upset in the second round against Daniel Altmaier. This defeat marked a significant moment in Tsitsipas’s career, as it was the first time since 2017 that he failed to advance past the third round of a Grand Slam event.
Injury Struggles and Surgery
His struggles this season included an early retirement during his first round match at Wimbledon, where he was unable to continue against Valentin Royer due to a troubling lower back issue. At that point, the scores were 3-6, 2-6, reflecting his struggle on the court, which Tsitsipas later described in an emotional reflection on his injury’s severity. He expressed concern about the ongoing chronic pain, revealing that he had been grappling with the back problem for several years. Tsitsipas even hinted at the possibility of retirement if his condition did not show signs of improvement.
Faced with the reality of his situation, Tsitsipas opted for surgery to rectify the ongoing issue, a decision he made in hopes of a more permanent resolution. On Thursday, the 27-year-old underwent the operation and is projected to be sidelined for a duration ranging from two to six weeks. As a result, he will miss the upcoming 2025 China Open in Beijing, a tournament where he was anticipated to compete alongside other prominent players, including the world No. 2, Jannik Sinner, and also in conjunction with a WTA 1000 event.
Future Competitions and Recovery
While unconfirmed, it is likely that Tsitsipas may also need to skip the 2025 Shanghai Masters, which starts on October 1st, as he would require an estimated recovery period of just over a week post-surgery to participate. His hope, according to reports from Tennis24, is to be fit in time for the 2025 Six Kings Slam, commencing on October 16th. Tsitsipas was recently announced as a replacement for Jack Draper, who had to withdraw after injuring himself during the season. Each participant in the Six Kings Slam is guaranteed a significant sum of $1.5 million, potentially tempting Tsitsipas to compete even if he is not yet at full strength.
Coaching Changes
Additionally, Tsitsipas’s season included a brief and turbulent collaboration with Goran Ivanisevic, which began after the 2025 French Open. Their partnership was short-lived, as they only played together at Wimbledon and Halle before parting ways. This separation was foreshadowed by Ivanisevic’s scathing critique of Tsitsipas’s physical condition during an interview shortly after Wimbledon, where he labeled the Greek as the “most unfit player” he had ever witnessed. Following these remarks, which even took friends of Ivanisevic by surprise, the split became inevitable, despite Tsitsipas’s professional response upon ending their collaboration. Currently, Tsitsipas has chosen to return to working with his father, a decision that comes after their high-profile split last year, which had many believing it was a wise move for his career.
