Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios is gearing up for a return to the court at the Abu Dhabi event in December, with his sights set on capturing a Grand Slam title and silencing his doubters. The former world number 13 has been sidelined for two years due to knee, foot, and wrist injuries, participating in only one ATP Tour singles match during that period. At 29, Kyrgios has hinted at retirement multiple times but recently told News Corp's Code Sports that he plans to compete in the World Tennis League in December, followed by a bid for the Australian Open in January.
"I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game," Kyrgios explained. "I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money. But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day. That'll be my deep motivation."
Kyrgios, who has worked as a commentator during his hiatus, reached his first singles Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in 2022, where he lost to Novak Djokovic in four sets. Unable to advance further in an era dominated by Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, Kyrgios's sometimes volatile temperament led some to dismiss him as a wasted talent. However, with Nadal's recent announcement of his retirement and Djokovic now 37, Kyrgios believes the competitive landscape is more open than ever.
Known for his fiery demeanor and on-court outbursts early in his career, Kyrgios refuted the label of being a "bad boy." "I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is," he said. "I don't think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer."
