I’m Confused Right Now: Nick Kyrgios Eyes Australian Open Comeback as much as he eyes his retirment plans due to…

 

Nick Kyrgios has expressed confidence in making his long-awaited return to tennis at the 2024 Australian Open but hinted that retirement could be on the horizon.

The 29-year-old Australian star, who famously reached the Wimbledon final in 2022, has been absent from competitive tennis for nearly 500 days due to persistent knee and wrist injuries.

Kyrgios’ last match was on June 13, 2023, when he suffered a straight-sets defeat to China’s Yibing Wu at the Stuttgart Open. That match marked his only appearance in 2023, having already withdrawn from the Australian Open earlier in the year. Speculation has been mounting regarding whether the enigmatic player would ever return to the tour.

During an Instagram live session on Tuesday, Kyrgios confirmed his intention to play in the upcoming Australian Open and mentioned plans to participate in warm-up events. However, a cryptic Instagram post shortly afterward left fans wondering about his future in the sport.

“Tennis … damn … it’s been A CRAZY JOURNEY!!!! It all started because of you. FOREVER GRATEFUL. I love all my FANS. There are only a few chapters left,” Kyrgios wrote, sparking conversations about his potential retirement. One fan commented, “Go out with a bang and on your terms, Kygs, excited to see what’s up your sleeve.”

While Kyrgios seems committed to his comeback, it’s clear that retirement is on his mind. The Australian showed signs of recovery during the UTS event in New York this past August, where he won a modified exhibition match against Casper Ruud. Reflecting on his performance, Kyrgios said, “I wasn’t expecting to play this well at all. Coming out here and still having that level, it’s amazing. What a way to come back.”

Kyrgios revealed that his recovery has been emotionally taxing. “I’ve been putting in some serious work, every single day back home. Obviously pretty emotional, it’s been a brutal 11 months. I didn’t know if I was going to play tennis again with the state of my wrist. There were literally conversations about never playing again.”

Despite his limited play over the past two years, Kyrgios has remained an outspoken figure in tennis. Recently, he criticised the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for not suspending world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who tested positive twice for a banned anabolic steroid. Sinner was stripped of $US325,000 ($A482,300) in prize money and 400 ranking points but avoided suspension after an independent tribunal ruled the positive tests were unintentional.

“Ridiculous — whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned substance … you should be gone for two years. Your performance was enhanced,” Kyrgios tweeted, reacting to the ITIA’s decision. He dismissed a replier defending Sinner, sarcastically responding, “Accidental? You truly believe that the physio rubbed physio cream onto a cut that made him fail two anabolic steroid tests. C’mon potato.”

Kyrgios’ candid comments and competitive ambitions suggest his career may not yet be over, but the looming question remains: how much longer will he stay in the game? Fans will be eagerly watching as the Australian Open approaches, hoping to see Kyrgios make a triumphant return.