Nick Kyrgios has made his come back to the ATP Tour after 18 long months of absence from competition. For him, his return to the court was bittersweet.
His defeat in his first round match at the Brisbane International against one of the fastest growing tennis players on the Tour – Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard – cannot be read as a debacle. Especially considering the fact that the Canberra-born tennis player surrendered only after three hard-fought tie-breaks in the third set.
What casts more doubt on the 29-year-old’s future, however, is the condition of his wrist. The former Wimbledon finalist suffered problems again during the match, bandaging it on one occasion due to the discomfort he was feeling. A rather significant alarm in view of the most anticipated engagement at the Australian Open, scheduled for January 12.
“I’m really super excited to play the Australian Open. If I’m ready to play, I will. But I also had a reality check today,” Kyrgios said in a post-match press conference. Nick, who has always been very active on social media, where he has several million followers, gave another update on his wrist, which has become a source of great concern ahead of the Happy Slams.
Kyrgios© The Tennis Letter X account
When asked by a fan how he was doing, Kyrgios responded: “My wrist will never be the same again. But I can do it, it all depends on how much pain I want to take. Thiem and del Potro understand my pain. I will do my best, but the level is still high.”
On how he was feeling emotionally, this was his response: “I don’t have the goal of being happy anymore, I just go with the flow and try to be as balanced as possible.”
Nick Kyrgios appears to be feeling discomfort in the same wrist he had surgery on in his match against Mpetshi Perricard in Brisbane.
He wrapped it up & continued play. pic.twitter.com/t2tQvTr4dI
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) December 31, 2024
Tennis World USA