Nick Kyrgios maybe wants to win a Grand Slam but he has his priorities straight and would still easily pick $20 million over a Major title.
After having two major surgeries, the 29-year-old is set to launch his comeback at the Brisbane International between December 29 – January 05. Since confirming that his return would happen, the Australian made it perfectly clear that becoming a Slam winner would be his No. 1 goal.
Ahead of his comeback, Kyrgios agreed to be a guest on the newly-launched Nothing Major podcast, which is hosted by former American tennis stars John Isner, Sam Querrey, Jack Sock and Steve Johnson. At one point, Querrey asked the former world No. 13 to choose between a Slam title and $20 million.
“$20 million, are you serious? Dude, come on,” Kyrgios responded.
Querrey attempted to lower the number and see what happens, asking: “$10 million?”
However, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist remained unfazed, responding: “$10 million, right now? I’m just saying a Slam is not that important. I guess we found out that tennis is still very business like, it’s sort of a business thing to me.”
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How much money Kyrgios has earned so far in his career?
Since turning pro in 2013, the Australian tennis star has collected around $12.5 million in tournament prize money. However, it should be noted that pretty much all of that money was earned before the 2023 season – he appeared in only match during the 2023 and 2024 season.
Off the court, Kyrgios has probably made some solid money too through his endorsement deals. Also, he worked as a tennis commentator and analyst during his time away from tennis and he also launched his own podcast.
In 2022, the 29-year-old had his best season result and money-wise. For making the Wimbledon final, he netted $1.85 million before collecting a total of $3.5 million in tournament prize money for 2022.
Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic© YouTube screenshot
Kyrgios highlighted his Slam goals; how much he could pocket for an Australian Open win?
There were times in the last two years when it was rumored that the seven-time ATP champion may not play again. But in November, the Australian officially cleared everything regarding his tennis future after confirming that he would make a comeback at the start of 2025.
That’s when he also fired a warning to his competition and shared his Slam aspirations.
“I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game. 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 told Code Sports.
This year, Jannik Sinner took home $2.1 million for his Australian Open triumph. With a slight increase planned for 2025, the returning Australian could potentially pocket around that sum if he made it all the way at Melbourne Park.
Before undergoing surgeries on his knee and wrist, Kyrgios was looking and playing like one of the best players in the game.
And despite his two-year absence from the game, former two-time US Open champion and Australian tennis legend Pat Rafter isn’t closing the doors on the prospect of the 29-year-old making a strong Australian Open run.
“You’d never write anyone off with the talent that Nick has. It’s pretty amazing. I really don’t know what he’s done, though. A year and a half off the game … it’s going to be interesting. I have no expectations or understanding about how he is going to go. I think it’s all up in the air. If he gets to the quarters, the semis, it wouldn’t surprise me. He’s got a massive game, but then can he keep it together? Can his body and mind hold together? They’re probably his really big hurdles,” Rafter told AAP.
“He’s got a massive game. But then can he keep it together? Can his body hold up? Can his mind hold together? They’re probably his really big hurdles, especially his body. If you don’t play competitively, God, it’s a completely different thing than to training. So I really don’t know what to expect from him. I think it’s all up in the air.”
Tennis World USA