Australian tennis eccentric Nick Kyrgios is also planning to compete with a very prominent world-class partner when he returns to the ATP Tour in Brisbane.
Tennis eccentric Nick Kyrgios returns to the ATP tour after a long injury break with a prominent doubles partner. The Australian announced on Instagram that he will be serving with Novak Djokovic in Brisbane (starting December 29).
The two had played each other in the 2022 Wimbledon final, with the record Grand Slam champion from Serbia coming out on top.
After that, injuries to his foot and wrist set Kyrgios back, but he plans to make a comeback next season. “I feel fit and healthy and am looking forward to my return to tennis after a long break. It’s been a long road to recovery,” Kyrgios said recently.
Before the tournaments in Australia, which also include the major in Melbourne (starting January 12), Kyrgios is planning to make an appearance at the show event in Abu Dhabi in December.
Kyrgios wants to return to the ATP tour
The powerful professional has earned a dubious reputation in his career, mainly for outbursts of rage and discussions during his matches, but at his best he was at least beyond reproach in terms of his sport.
The 29-year-old most recently worked as an interviewer, including at the US Open. Now he wants to get back on the court – and has big ambitions.
“I’ve beaten almost everyone I’ve faced,” Kyrgios told Code Sports, before listing his career achievements so far: “But I think the only thing I’m aiming for now is a Grand Slam. I think that’s the only thing that will finally shut people up.”
Kyrgios did not play a tournament in 2024, and only one match in Stuttgart last year.
Kyrgios and Djokovic are friends after the Australian publicly defended the Serb, who did not want to be vaccinated, during the coronavirus pandemic.
In previous years, the relationship between the two tennis pros was quite different: Kyrgios called Djokovic, among other things, “stupid” and “foolish”.