Follow us on Google Discover Stefanos Tsitsipas’ trip to Saudi Arabia for the Six Kings Slam did not go as he had hoped.
Tsitsipas was handed a golden opportunity to make a statement at the exhibition event and kick-start a strong finish to an otherwise disappointing season.
Having tumbled down the rankings to as low as 30th in the world this year, the Greek star had the chance to salvage his 2025 campaign with a big win over world number two Jannik Sinner.
His time in Riyadh did not last long at all, however, with Tsitsipas losing to Sinner in 76 minutes, falling in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, in what marked a dominant performance from the Italian.
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Since January, Tsitsipas has tallied 22 wins and 18 losses, while also making a number of changes in his coaching team.
Though he managed to win a title in Dubai, the former world number three has been a shell of his former self this season.
Stefanos Tsitsipas discusses his poor 2025 season on the ATP tour
After his defeat to Sinner, Tsitsipas discussed the challenges he has faced in 2025 during his post-match press conference.
When asked what he needs to do to return to the world’s top five, he said: “I need a healthy body. I’ve been discussing this with my team.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“I just wish I could find ways at some point that I can maybe play 5 to 6 matches in a row and not feel pain after finishing the match. So far, it hasn’t been the case.
“I feel pain after every single match that I finish, almost this year, except January to maybe March was pretty okay, I have to say, but ever since March passed, it has been a hard time.”
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Tsitsipas has been struggling with a back injury, and recently visited the hospital to have it readjusted.
The 27-year-old continued: “I don’t know [when I’ll be 100% again]. I wish I knew that. I’m working more than I ever worked in my life.
“I’m working more than my best year, which I would believe would be 2019, my breakthrough year. I’m working more than that, and that’s crazy to me.
“I’m putting double the work of what I did back then, and it’s part of what I need to do in order to maintain my body.
“I’m in a fragile situation, and I have to do extra stuff in order to protect my back. It requires work. Without work, I won’t be able to be fit and be out on the court.”
Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty ImagesStefanos Tsitsipas’ next appearances on the ATP Tour
Following his exit at the Six Kings Slam, Tsitsipas took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to state: “Witnessing greatness up close makes you hungry for more.
“Working hard to finish the season strong in Vienna, Paris, and Athens.”
Tsitsipas will begin his indoor hard-court season at the Vienna Open, before competing at the final ATP Masters 1000 event in Paris.
He will then make his way back home to Greece to enter the new-look ATP 250 tournament in Athens.
With just 1425 live points in the ‘Race to Turin’, Tsitsipas will not qualify for the ATP Finals in November.