Nick Kyrgios has announced his return to competitive tennis at the upcoming Brisbane International, marking his first tournament appearance after playing only one professional match in more than two years.
The 29-year-old, known for his fiery on-court presence, has been largely absent from the sport due to serious wrist and knee injuries following his 2022 US Open quarter-final run. These setbacks came just six weeks after reaching the Wimbledon final, where he narrowly missed out on a major title against Novak Djokovic.
In addition to the Brisbane International, which kicks off on December 29, Kyrgios plans to participate in the World Tennis League exhibition in Abu Dhabi. This mixed team event will also feature top players like Iga Swiatek, Casper Ruud, Aryna Sabalenka, Taylor Fritz, and Daniil Medvedev.
Kyrgios had to withdraw from the 2023 Australian Open due to a knee injury that required surgery and later pulled out of the French Open with a foot injury. Despite undergoing surgery for a torn wrist ligament and having last competed briefly in Stuttgart in June 2023, Kyrgios remains optimistic. Though currently unranked, the former world No.13 is eager to compete again, especially in front of his home crowd.
"Honestly, this is probably the best I've felt in two years," Kyrgios shared with 9News Melbourne. "I had an incredible year in 2022, but began experiencing wrist issues at Wimbledon and the US Open. After wrist reconstruction surgery, I'm feeling incredible now."
Reflecting on his recovery journey, Kyrgios added, "It was almost a miracle with only a 15% chance of returning to this level, and here we are. Playing in front of home fans is going to be amazing."