2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios confirmed he’ll make his long-awaited return to competitive tennis at this year’s Brisbane International tournament starting December 29 on the eve of an intriguing 2025 campaign. The electric Australian talent has suffered through career-threatening wrist and knee injuries, seeing him only play one ATP tour-level match in two years.
Kyrgios: Honestly? Best I’ve felt in two years
AT long last, Nick Kyrgios’ return is no longer uncertain. While he has embraced his position (and thus, persona) within the sport to become a welcome voice in analysis and commentary positions over the past year, there’s still more left in the tank for a 29-year-old playing his best tennis before more injury woes struck.
Headlines did their thing after he blasted his racquet into smithereens in New York, inexplicably losing a five-set US Open quarterfinal thriller against Karen Khachanov – having knocked out 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev the round prior – though the Canberra-born talent knew that year was perfectly set up for a breakthrough.
After all, he exceeded all expectations to reach the Wimbledon final six weeks earlier and led foe-turned-friend Novak Djokovic by a set before losing in four to an all-time great that over time, he’s softened to now genuinely deem the Serb a friend.
He’ll first return for an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, the World Tennis League (Dec. 19-22) having featured in the inaugural instalment in 2022 across singles and doubles play. Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, the aforementioned Medvedev as well as the world’s top-two ranked female players – Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are expected.
Having been a late withdrawal from the 2023 edition of his home Grand Slam owing to a knee injury requiring surgery, he withdrew from the French Open with a foot complaint before cutting an unhappy figure once it became apparent he wouldn’t be fit to build upon a runner-up plate at SW19 after a setback on grass in Stuttgart.
He tore a ligament in his wrist also requiring surgery, ultimately losing in straight-sets to China’s Yibing Wu before delving deep into his arsenal and embracing a media role with several platforms during the year’s biggest tournaments, including Tennis Channel, Eurosport and the BBC during their Wimbledon coverage this past summer.
The former world no. 13 is naturally excited to resume his career in-front of home fans, telling Melbourne TV: “Honestly, this is probably the best I’ve felt in two years. I played that amazing year in 2022, then at the Wimbledon finals and US Open, started feeling some issues in my wrist. I had wrist reconstruction, now I’m feeling amazing.”
Picture source: Getty Images
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