Nick Kyrgios lost to Sho Shimabukuro, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, in the second round of the Stuttgart Open.
The returning Aussie came close to reaching the quarter-finals, but narrowly missed out, losing in three sets to the Japanese qualifier.
Still, Kyrgios can be proud of his efforts in Stuttgart, having won his first singles match of the season in the first round against Corentin Moutet.
What would be a successful season for Nick Kyrgios in 2026?
Andy Murray’s former coach, Miles Maclagan, even suggested that Kyrgios could benefit from his defeat to Shimabukuro.
Miles Maclagan thinks it’s ‘no bad thing’ for Nick Kyrgios to only play a few matches in Stuttgart
During Sky Sports’ coverage of the Stuttgart Open, Maclagan delivered his verdict on Kyrgios’ exit.
“A couple of matches under his belt…” said Maclagan.
“You always want to win, but maybe it’s no bad thing for him to just play a couple of matches.
“Sometimes, if you’ve been out for a long time, and you play five matches in a row, it can be a big toll and your body isn’t ready for it.”
Kyrgios’ second-round defeat to Shimabukuro in Stuttgart was just the ninth singles match he has played since the beginning of the 2023 season.
The 31-year-old has suffered setback after setback, with injuries derailing his career.
Maclagan doesn’t think it’s a bad thing that Kyrgios only played two matches in Stuttgart and he may be right.
Kyrgios didn’t win against Shimabukuro, but just as he did against Moutet, he proved he can compete, displaying some of the world-class shot-making that saw him reach the Wimbledon final four years ago.
Playing tournaments and building fitness should be Kyrgios’ priority at the Wimbledon warm-up events.
Then, if he is fit to do so, he can think about putting a run together at the All England Club.
The future may be brighter than many thought for Kyrgios, but it’s certainly bright for Shimabukuro right now.
Entering qualifying in Stuttgart, the 28-year-old will make his top-100 debut next week and can now look forward to his maiden ATP quarter-final.
Nick Kyrgios vs Sho Shimabukuro – Match stats
| Stats | Nick Kyrgios | Sho Shimabukuro |
| Aces | 22 | 13 |
| Double faults | 2 | 5 |
| 1st Serve % | 76% | 57% |
| Win % on 1st Serve | 79% | 87% |
| Win % on 2nd Serve | 52% | 61% |
| Break points | 1/1 | 1/1 |
Maclagan was impressed with Shimabukuro’s performance, as he battled back from a set down to book his place in the last eight.
“What an excellent performance by [Sho] Shimabukuro, who weathered an early storm. Not quite sure what to expect against Kyrgios, the Aussie came out fast once again, an excellent first set. But this man kept his cool, kept his calm, he controlled his emotions, played some excellent tennis, his serve went from strength to strength, he closed that out impressively,” he said.
“You’d forgive him for being a little nervous and finding his way in. You expect against Kyrgios that there are going to be moments of frustration, moments where you don’t really get your teeth into any of his service games.
“That was the case for a long time, and it looked as though Nick Kyrgios had maybe wrestled back control in that tiebreak in the second set; he was only a couple of points away at one stage!”
Kyrgios nearly closed out the win, but was denied by the talented Japanese player, who was delighted during his post-match interview.
“I’m really happy. Nick [Kyrgios] is a great player, and a big name in tennis,” he said.
“It means a lot to win today.”
Shimabukuro will return to take on Ben Shelton or Marcos Giron in the Stuttgart Open quarter-finals.
Nick Kyrgios still has two tournaments to play before Wimbledon
Provided he doesn’t withdraw, Kyrgios will be back in action next week at the Halle Open, where he has received a wild card.
Several top players, including Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, are heading to Halle, providing Kyrgios a golden opportunity to test himself against top-10 opposition.
After Halle, he will head to Spain for the Mallorca Championships.
Kyrgios played in Mallorca the year he reached the Wimbledon final.
It would take an almighty effort for him to repeat the feat in 2026, but stranger things have happened.
The Halle Open begins on Monday, June 15, two weeks before Wimbledon starts.
