Nick Kyrgios plans to make his return to the ATP Tour in 2025, and he suspects not everyone is thrilled about it.
Having played just one match over the past two years, he finally sees a glimmer of hope after a long period of frustration. His comeback begins at the Brisbane International as he gears up for his first Grand Slam appearance since that epic five-set showdown against Karen Khachanov at the 2022 US Open quarterfinals.
Kyrgios has been out due to serious wrist and ankle injuries, with the wrist issue being particularly troublesome. At one point, it seemed like he might never return to tennis. Fans might wonder if this comeback will be as dramatic as his past matches.
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Unexpected Comeback:
He underwent wrist reconstruction surgery despite being told there was only a 15% chance of returning to tennis. Against all odds, the surgery was successful, paving the way for his 2025 return. Before these setbacks, Kyrgios was known for being quite controversial on court—some loved him for it; others didn’t.
One infamous moment involved an outrageous comment directed at Stan Wawrinka during the 2015 Canadian Open: "Kokkinakis ba***d your girlfriend, sorry to tell you that mate." Although Kyrgios later apologized, he brushed off any guilt by calling it "good old-fashioned trash talk" and accused Wawrinka of aiming a ball at his head.
Such incidents may explain why some players aren’t exactly fans of Kyrgios. He admitted on the AO Show that many players might not be happy about his return because of both his personality and skills on court. "Whether a player wants me back or not," he said, "I don’t think there will be too many happy faces seeing me back on tour."
While top players today often share friendlier bonds—like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner—the sport’s history isn’t without its rivalries; Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic once had their own chilly relationship.
Fans have mixed feelings about whether more tension among players would benefit tennis or not. Kyrgios finds inspiration in Dominic Thiem’s journey through injury recovery before retiring from tennis altogether.
"I think people whom I have drawn inspiration from," Kyrgios shared, "someone like Dominic Thiem…to see him getting back to a challenging level and play some Grand Slams was a bonus." He hopes to win big matches again himself.
What do you think? Is Nick’s comeback something you’re looking forward to?
