Following the tie, Greek media reported that Tsitsipas had received medical treatment for his back, especially after he skipped the Beijing tournament. He later addressed rumors of surgery with a statement on social media: “In light of recent reports, I would like to clarify that I have not undergone back surgery and I am doing well.” He confirmed the procedure was a “special type of examination.”
Speaking to press in Shanghai, Tsitsipas said: “My focus would be a combination of seeing what my back allows me to do now and reconnecting a little bit with the wins. Top of my list right now, I would definitely like to see a few matches in a row without back pain…
“I won’t go into details, but it’s something that did help me a lot. I readjusted and fixed my back. So I’m just waiting to see how that responds in matches and how I’m able to compete in a much more healthy state.”
