Tsitsipas says “overload” may explain back injury after ATP Finals withdrawal

The Greek said the intensity of “hunting” for points all season may have contributed to his injury

Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic

November 14, 2023

Stefanos Tsitsipas admitted on Tuesday that the tennis Tour has taken its toll on his body after he was forced to withdraw from the ATP Finals early in his second round-robin match.

The Greek said he had been struggling with a back injury in the past week and he lasted just three games against Holger Rune, the Dane picking up his first win of the Finals.

Stefanos Tsitsipas on his retirement to Holger Rune at ATP Finals:

“My apologies to all the fans who came today.. I’m gutted that I wasn’t able to finish. It’s a shame also not to give that spot to someone else to at least try & do something with it.”

pic.twitter.com/b4RYgsXmLR
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 14, 2023

“Well, look, the tour is very demanding,” said Tsitsipas, who said he felt more pain in his back in the warm-up before the Rune match.

“We get to play a lot of matches during the year at a very high level and intensity. There’s not a single match during the season that is easy, considered easy. There are maybe very few occasions that I would storm through a match 2 and 3, 2 and 1. These matches don’t quite happen that often on the tour.

“I do believe it’s because of the maybe lack of rest, lack of getting my body to rest sometimes and properly prepare for big events. I am hunting a lot. I’m trying to get as much as possible regarding points, regarding the rankings. I really push myself to the limits. I do believe it’s maybe a combination of lack of rest and not that good of a preparation. Overload, as well. Could be that, as well.”

Tsitsipas upset to have to pull out

Tsitsipas said he was gutted to miss out on a chance to do well at the Finals, having qualified for a fifth straight year, a run that includes winning the title in 2019.

“It’s very unfortunate,” he said. “I’ve had two editions here in Turin where I had to withdraw from the tournament. Never happened to me before that I had to withdraw. Very, very few occasions that I can recall on that matter.

“It definitely hurts me a lot because this is the tournament that means the most to me, including the Grand Slams. I’m not able to compete the way I want to compete.”