MELBOURNE, Australia — A raucous cheer reverberated around John Cain Arena as Nick Kyrgios’ name was announced over the stadium’s public address system and the local hero emerged from the players’ tunnel out onto the dancefloor of the chaotic, zoo-like party court he has single-handedly created during his polarising tennis career. Sporting a green and gold singlet, gold shorts, and gold shoes, Kyrgios dipped his head in appreciation as the decibels continued to rise, before flashing a thankful wave to the bulk of the crowd partaking in his standing ovation.
There were many storylines to follow intently Monday evening at the Australian Open. At Rod Laver Arena, 10-time champion Novak Djokovic was beginning his quest for a record-extending 25th major title. Next door, at Margaret Court Arena, flamboyant Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz was looking to take the first step toward winning the only Grand Slam missing from his trophy cabinet. But it was Kyrgios’ return to major competition from a grueling near two-and-a-half-year injury layoff that was laced with the most intrigue, hype, and anticipation.
How would he look? Could his body hold up? Was this the beginning of a notable rise back up the ATP rankings?
As daylight transitioned into darkness, and Kyrgios, as is custom, ran through the full gamut of emotions, the answers to each of these pressing questions became painfully clear. And an evening that began with such a heartfelt comeback story had seemingly morphed into the opening chapter of what appears to be a gradual farewell for the mercurial tennis star, who suffered an unceremonious straight sets defeat to Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley in a little over two hours.
“Realistically, I can’t really see myself playing singles match here again,” a dejected Kyrgios revealed to reporters after the loss. “I was knocking on the door from playing some of the biggest events … winning some of the biggest events. When you’re competing for the biggest tournaments in the world and you’re struggling to win sets, physically, it’s pretty tough. It’s just not enjoyable for me.”
Before the Australian Open began, Kyrgios claimed he would require “a miracle” for his body to hold up to the rigour of Grand Slam competition. He then suffered his latest setback: a grade 1 abdominal strain, sustained at last month’s Brisbane International.
There was no miracle for Kyrgios, and it was evident from the outset he was still significantly hampered by injury. After the third point of the match, he winced in discomfort as he reached for his midsection. Later in the opening set, he grimaced and shouted, “I shouldn’t be f—ing out here,” toward his box. The outburst, coupled with his meager body language, gave the impression he was a man who had accepted his fate long before entering the arena.
The abdominal pain meant Kyrgios’ greatest weapon, his booming serve, was totally neutralized. He was unable to generate enough power to win cheap points, having to rely on scrapping it out in rallies to gain any sort of ascendancy. But that didn’t eventuate, either. He showed rust with his ball striking, repeatedly dumping shots into the bottom of the net or sending them sailing metres past his opponent’s baseline.
Throughout it all he remained somewhat stoic. This was Kyrgios, but it wasn’t. In some ways it felt like a sort of watered-down version of what we’ve become accustomed to from the one-time world No. 13. He was still his usual boisterous, brash self, but he seemed somewhat unsure of himself and certainly physically unable to provide the highlight reel plays those in the crowd were desperately attempting to coax out of him. Twice in the second set he called for the trainer, but it did little to turn his fortunes around.
“The timing of the abdominal strain was not ideal,” said Kyrgios. “I knew I wasn’t 100% going into this match. I knew tonight was going to be tough with my physical state. I knew I was going to be really hindered with my serve. But it was hard to throw the towel in. I tried to do the best I could with the state I was in physically.
“I’m happy to play through a bit of discomfort. When it gets to a point of … I’m one of the biggest servers on tour and I’m getting out-served tonight. My average serve speed was beneath 200km/h. I mean, Nick Kyrgios without his serve is probably not a threat to many players.”
In many ways, Kyrgios should not have been competing at this year’s Australian Open. Not because he no longer possessed the quality and skill to challenge the world’s best, but because of the path he’s been forced to navigate over the past 12 months. It’s not hyperbole to say the injury ravaged Kyrgios defied tennis history by returning to tour level competition in December.
“I’ve got six holes in my hand and one in my arm (from surgery); not one tennis player has ever had this surgery and come back and tried to play again,” Kyrgios told reporters earlier this month. “It’s all really an experimental (process) … no real protocol of how it’s going to be or how it’s going to pull up.”
For two years, the Australian has battled persistent knee and wrist injuries that have kept him sidelined, all but giving up on his dream of returning to the tennis court. It’s the right wrist that’s proved to be the most troublesome. Kyrgios first aggravated it after a fall at Indian Wells in 2015 and for almost a decade has dealt with period flareups. The most recent coming in the lead in to Wimbledon in 2023. He attempted stem cell therapy in the United States before returning to Australia and discovering he had ruptured his scapholunate ligament, one that is as important in stabilizing the wrist as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is for the knee.
After surgery and close to 16 months of around-the-clock rehabilitation, things began looking up. And yet here he is, dealing with pain once more. It all begs the question, what’s next?
Kyrgios will play Australian Open doubles with good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, but after that, there are few guarantees. Last week, he was selected to Australia’s Davis Cup squad, but his involvement must now be viewed as questionable at best. As for 2025’s other majors, Kyrgios confirmed he would “definitely” be putting himself in the frame to play, but likely not be returning for another singles appearance at the Australian Open in 12 months time.
What Monday’s loss did do was all but confirm the best of Kyrgios is long in the rearview mirror. He may only be 29 years of age, but those injuries make him feel like a, relatively, old 29. If he does elect to carry on, regardless of in what capacity, it wouldn’t be right to expect the version of him that very nearly won Wimbledon in 2022 — or anything close — any time he sets foot on a court.
“My journey is not over, but I’ve had an amazing journey,” said Kyrgios. “My career’s been amazing. I don’t have any regrets. think everything has been a learning curve for me. I continue to try and have fun, just be real, and enjoy the ride. But I think it would be selfish for me to say that I want more. I’ve had a lot of success. More than most athletes would have. All my focus now is just not taking anything for granted.”
