Tsitsipas Retires Wimbledon First Round Due to Chronic Back Injury

Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has retired from his Wimbledon first-round match due to a persistent lower back injury that has troubled him since 2023. Despite extensive efforts in fitness and physiotherapy, Tsitsipas expressed frustration and uncertainty about his health, saying he has 'no answers' left and is battling ongoing physical challenges. The injury has significantly affected his performance, coinciding with a decline in his rankings and limiting him to only one Grand Slam quarterfinal in his last nine attempts. He has ruled out surgery but is contemplating the future of his career, acknowledging that the inability to rotate his body—a critical aspect of tennis—may force a difficult decision soon. Tsitsipas has recently begun working with Goran Ivanisevic, former coach of Novak Djokovic, in hopes of regaining his form. His participation in upcoming tournaments like the US Open remains uncertain as he weighs his options amid this challenging period.