Stefanos Tsitsipas' Wimbledon campaign ended abruptly in the first round. The Greek dropped the opening two sets against a qualifier Valentin Royer and retired due to ongoing lower back discomfort.
Tsitsipas was visibly troubled by a lingering injury that has haunted him since late 2023. He required a medical timeout, but it was not enough to ease the pain and allow him to at least complete the match.
Stefanos has not been able to compete at his best for nearly two years, and the most recent setback cast fresh doubt over his immediate playing future.
Stefanos Tsitsipas retires from his first-round match at #Wimbledon due to injury.
He was down 2 sets to Valentin Royer.
Really tough to see.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/cfEDhs7NJf— Ground Pass (@GroundPasspod) June 30, 2025
Once a fixture in the top tier of the ATP Tour and a Major contender, Tsitsipas is now battling a physical condition that threatens his career. The lower back issue has affected his movement and rotation for months, with no viable surgical options on the table.
Despite an intense physiotherapy regime and countless attempts to manage the discomfort, the 26-year-old admits he is running out of solutions! Stefanos finds himself at a crossroads, questioning whether he can or should continue under such limitations.
The latest setback, like the previous ones, came as a part of difficult period that began after the 2023 US Open. The Greek accelerated the damage with heavy scheduling, and it all culminated at the ATP Finals when he retired against Holger Rune and left the event.
Valentin Royer & Stefanos Tsitsipas, Wimbledon 2025© X – ATP Tour
With the pain and uncertainty taking a toll both physically and mentally, the next couple of months will be crucial in determining whether the 26-year-old continues his career or takes a step back.
Stefanos has been among the world's best players since 2018. He deserves to play injury-free and chase notable titles after giving a lot to our sport. However, the reality seems much more darker and uncertain.
"It's hard to describe what I'm going through. I'm feeling many battles these days, and it's painful to find myself in a situation like this. I hate to retire from a match, and I have found myself in this situation several times since the 2023 ATP Finals.
Wimbledon 2025© Stream screenshot
My body has been fragile, and I have struggled to feel healthy and comfortable during extreme effort. I feel like I'm out of answers after trying everything. I have done an incredible job with my physiotherapy, and there's not much else I can do.
The ongoing issue creates frustration and uncertainty, and this is likely the most challenging situation I have ever experienced. I will have to come up with a final answer in the next two months. If things do not improve, there is no point in continuing to compete.
Without my health, my entire tennis life becomes miserable. The lower left back has been bothering me for years, limiting my rotation. The damage is already done, and surgery is not an option.
The discomfort occurred in the fall of 2023. I played in the Davis Cup after the US Open and traveled to China a few weeks later. I remember telling myself that something bad could happen if I played so many weeks in a row.
I trained and played a lot, and things gone worse. As you can see, I'm yet to recover," Stefanos Tsitsipas said.
