Nick Kyrgios thinks the game has become “bland” with the Big Three era coming to an end and everything that happened in the tennis world in the last couple of years.
After struggling with a knee injury for a few years and having his third surgery in the summer of 2021, Roger Federer never fully recovered and came back for only final doubles match at the 2022 Laver Cup – in which he teamed up with Rafael Nadal. That also marked the first retirement of a member of the Big Three group.
This week, the 38-year-old Spaniard officially joined Federer in retirement after having his farewell at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Unfortunately for Nadal, his campaign at his last pro tournament was short-lived after Spain got bounced by Netherlands on the opening day of the Davis Cup Finals.
When it comes to Novak Djokovic, he is still active and recently confirmed that he will definitely be back in 2025 and target more success. While the Serb managed to win the Paris Olympics this year, he didn’t win a single Grand Slam in a season for the first time since 2017. And since Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz split Slams between them this year, some argue it is fair to think that Djokovic is no longer the player to beat.
Kyrgios, who was limited to just one tournament in the last two seasons, gave his take on the current state of tennis ahead of his long-awaited comeback.
“I think it’s a very interesting time at the moment in the tennis world. Obviously, we see, you know, Djokovic, I think we could all say he’s at the tail end of his career. He’s still a phenomenal player. But Nadal, literally, today, officially, his last ever time we’re going to see him on the court. Federer is gone. So look, there’s some amazing players still out there, but I think the game’s a bit bland at the moment,” the 2022 Wimbledon finalist said during his appearance on Nova 100’s Jase and Lauren radio show.
Nick Kyrgios© Nick Kyrgios/Instagram – Fair Use
Kyrgios highlights one thing he can’t stand on the ATP Tour
Since the start of his career, the 29-year-old has been known as one of the most outspoken individuals. Now, the seven-time ATP champion admits seeing players being too friendly with each other gets on his nerve.
“And, you know, everyone’s liking each other, and everyone’s friends with each other. And I just, I hate that s—, to be honest. Everyone’s everyone’s best mate,” Kyrgios added.
When it comes the Australian’s comeback, the official date is the first week of the 2025 season at the Brisbane International. And he doesn’t expect that everyone will be too happy to see him.
“Whether a player wants me to come back or not, I don’t think there will be too many happy faces seeing me back on the tour. I had a lot of friends and also a lot of people that didn’t get along with me which I think is completely normal in sport and I think the tennis world needs a bit more of that,” the former world No. 13 said.
Kyrgios’ blunt warning to his competition
Before suffering a knee injury during the 2022 preseason, the Australian tennis star was one of the best players that year. And going into 2023, he didn’t hide that he was hoping to attack the Australian Open title.
But then, he was forced to surgically address his knee injury in 2023 January before having another surgery several months later on his wrist. The second surgery was especially tough because Kyrgios sustained a very serious injury and there was even major fear that he would not be able to play again.
However, he had the luck to be operated on by one of the best wrist surgeons in Australia and now he is feeling fully healthy and ready to play again in just over a month.
Nick Kyrgios© Nick Kyrgios/Instagram – Fair Use
“Honestly, this is probably the best I’ve felt in two years. I played that amazing year in 2022. Then, at the finals in Wimbledon and the US Open, that’s when I started feeling some issues in my wrist. I had that wrist reconstruction, and now I’m feeling amazing. It was a 15% miracle chance that I was going to get back to playing at this level and here we are. To get back out there in front of the home fans is going to be sick. I am feeling fit and healthy, and I am excited for my return to tennis following some time out of the sport,” Kyrgios told Nine News.