Kyrgios Shows He's 'Not Done Yet' with Emotional Comeback Win in New York

New York, August 23rd, 2024 - In a display of raw emotion and undeniable talent, Nick Kyrgios announced his return to tennis with a resounding victory over World No. 8 Casper Ruud at the UTS New York event.

After 11 grueling months battling a wrist injury, Kyrgios exceeded even his own expectations, dominating Ruud 17-8, 21-9, 15-11 in the fast-paced format.

"I wasn’t expecting to play this well at all," admitted a visibly moved Kyrgios after the match. "Coming out here and still having that level, it’s amazing. What a way to come back."

The road to recovery was paved with doubt, with Kyrgios revealing the severity of his injury had him contemplating the end of his career.

"It’s been a brutal 11 months," he shared. "I didn’t know if I was going to play tennis again with the state of my wrist. It was literally conversations of never playing again.”

However, the Australian star's performance at Forest Hills Stadium, home to a star-studded UTS lineup including Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, proved he is far from done.

Attributing his success to "serious work, every single day back home," Kyrgios acknowledged the test Ruud posed. "Casper’s probably one of the best players in the world, so [this was] one of the best ways to test my wrist."

While Kyrgios remains cautious about a full-fledged comeback, stating "Let’s see if we can string a couple of matches together," his return has injected excitement into the tennis world.

De Minaur Shines, Upsets Rock UTS New York

Fellow Australian Alex de Minaur also impressed in New York, sweeping Denis Shapovalov 3-0 to secure a top-three finish in the UTS Race. However, Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a shocking defeat, falling to Alexander Bublik in a UTS-record sudden death thriller.

Bublik, who also stunned two-time champion Andrey Rublev in a major upset, battled Tsitsipas through a nerve-wracking sudden death that extended to seven match points.

"The most nervous match I’ve ever played in my life,” admitted Bublik. "This was crazy, it was a rollercoaster. So tense."

UTS New York continues to deliver exhilarating action and unexpected results, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.