Nick Kyrgios: I will be playing the Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios has revealed that he will be competing at the Australian Open next year, making his return after a two-year hiatus.

Kyrgios has only played one match in the past two seasons, losing in the first round on the grass of Stuttgart to Yibing Wu.

The Australian was originally out of action due to a tear in his lateral meniscus, that required arthroscopic surgery.

When attempting to return to action during the grass court season in 2023, Kyrgios tore a ligament in his wrist and needed another innovative surgery to reduce both the pain and potential permanent arthritis.

Since then, Kyrgios has remained in the sport, but instead as a pundit and commentator for the BBC and ESPN.

More recently Kyrgios played a match at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) exhibition in New York, and now the 29-year-old has confirmed his plans to return to competitive action at his home major next year.

“I will be playing the Australian Open this summer,” said Kyrgios. “I just miss being out there playing in front of a home crowd. We’ve got such a crowd of guys at the moment, like Alex de Minaur, playing amazing tennis.”

The former Wimbledon finalist continued, “The injury I had was brutal. The surgeon said I probably wouldn’t be able to play again. But I said, ‘Whatever, just try and get me another two to three years of my career’. It’s been a brutal last couple of years, but just being out there to play in front of a home crowd… I just want to be out there, lighting up the crowd and playing in front of my own country.

“Whether it is good or bad, it will certainly be a lot of fun, for sure. I am looking forward to it. My only motivation to come back and play is to try and win a Grand Slam, and I’ll give it one more shot.”

Kyrgios last played at the Australian Open in 2022, winning his only Grand Slam title in doubles alongside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Although he does not have a ranking due to inactivity, Kyrgios will be able to rely on his protected ranking of No.21 to enter the Melbourne major.

Inside the baseline…

Nick Kyrgios has been hinting that his return was nearing, so it is unsurprising that the Australian hard court season is where he is planning for that to happen. Although Kyrgios is not short of confidence and ambition, it is going to take a lot for him to be able to compete, especially after such a long period out of action. It seems likely that Kyrgios will play at least one tournament ahead of the Australian Open, as he would surely not want to make a Grand Slam his first tournament in nearly two years.

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