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Is Nick Kyrgios serious about a comeback, or just playing Djoker?
By Marc McGowan
Nick Kyrgios quipped – seriously or not – during a Wimbledon hitting session with Novak Djokovic on Thursday that he might try to play at next month’s US Open.
The sport’s most boisterous grand slam begins in New York in six short weeks.
Nick Kyrgios (right) has enjoyed his commentary stint on the BBC alongside another former tennis bad boy, John McEnroe.Credit: Getty Images
Kyrgios, technically unranked but with a protected ranking of No.21, has competed only once in the past 21 months, and is still not serving at full tilt to protect his surgically repaired wrist.
“I can tell you a few days ago when we practised ... he hit a really good serve, and he said, ‘Well, I might come back at the US Open’,” Djokovic said to a question from this masthead. “I don’t know if he was joking about it or not. But let me tell you, he’s hitting the ball as good as ever, really.
“He’s so talented. He’s so good with his tennis. I think he said that the wrist bothers him mostly with the serve, but he’s been increasing the load and the intensity and the speed … he’s very positive.
“It’s nice to see him full of life, full of energy. He’s really pumped to be here in Wimbledon, enjoying our practice sessions and commentating. He’s an extremely important guy for our sport. I think he brings new fans.”
Kyrgios’ absence started because of a cyst growing in the meniscus of his left knee, and extended due to a torn wrist ligament that was revealed on Wimbledon eve a year ago, hours after he conducted a pre-tournament media conference without mentioning it.
Wrist injuries are particularly nasty, as Dominic Thiem, Juan Martin del Potro and Emma Raducanu will tell you. Kyrgios underwent “secret” wrist surgery in Adelaide last September.
He also complained of knee soreness in the one match he did play in the past two years – a straight-sets defeat to China’s Yibing Wu on Stuttgart’s grass 13 months ago – so there is intrigue about how his body will hold up.
The 2022 All England club runner-up has also committed to playing in the New York leg of the fast-paced, modified-rules Ultimate Tennis Showdown on August 22 and 23, only days before the US Open begins.
But Kyrgios intends to return earlier than that, on the doubles court.
Thanasi Kokkinakis put his hands up to reprise their Australian Open-winning partnership before he suffered a moderate grade medial collateral ligament sprain and had to withdraw mid-match in the second round at Wimbledon last week.
“I haven’t spoken to him too much ... he’s a busy man. He’s doing a lot of stuff but tennis at the moment,” Kokkinakis said.
“[But] he’ll be back on the court very soon. I know he loves the commentary – I think he’s very good at it. I know he said he was going to start with some doubles, potentially, so I told him to give me a buzz when he’s ready, and we’ll start up and play some, but he’s making the most of his off-court time, that’s for sure.”
Kyrgios courtside following Novak Djokovic’s semi-final win.Credit: Getty Images
Kokkinakis may not be ready in time for that to happen now, although Kyrgios has not said where or when he will return, outside of saying it would be “in the next month”.
He is getting almost as much attention this Wimbledon fortnight as the actual players – one of his other great talents – because of his practice court presence and BBC commentary gig.
Ash Barty is on BBC’s staff, too, but the former world No.1 said she was yet to cross paths with him.
“I love being here and watching it and analysing it, but I do miss being out there,” Kyrgios said during commentary of Djokovic’s semi-final win over Lorenzo Musetti.
Kyrgios looking relaxed at Wimbledon.Credit: PA Images via Getty Images
“You know the rush it brings. I want to give the fans something to remember, whether it’s good or bad. Physically, I’m good – I had a two-hour practice this morning.
“I’ve been hitting with Novak every other day, so it’s been good. Everything’s going well.”
There was backlash from British viewers about Kyrgios’ presence on BBC’s coverage, specifically because he pled guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend Chiara Passari in 2021, even though an ACT court dismissed the charges because it was a “low-level” offence.
He has been typically polarising.
Some love Kyrgios’ insights, whereas others have switched off, while he criticised his colleague and ex-player Andrew Castle – who he previously called a “clown” – on social media for not finding a match “captivating”, and mocked a BBC viewer who complained about his “disrespect” to peers and others.
A lot has changed in Australian tennis while he has been gone.
Dual major quarter-finalist Alex de Minaur has become a legitimate force and established top-10 player. He will soar to a career-high No.6 in the world on Monday. Kyrgios peaked at No.13 eight years ago.
The two stars are not close, at least in part because Kyrgios refuses to play for Australia in the Davis Cup, which he explained previously is because he can make more money playing elsewhere, such as lucrative exhibition events in Saudi Arabia.
He also feels Australia does not embrace him enough. As a result, Kyrgios rarely speaks to Australian media and prefers to commentate for international stations.
Kyrgios will always be a significant drawcard, and is mostly good for the sport despite his hypocritical actions at times, but de Minaur’s emergence means he is not missed as much as he might hope.
There was a collective satisfaction in him reaching the Wimbledon final two years ago because it would have been a great shame to not have at least a result such as that with his immense ability.
Hopefully, Kyrgios has another big performance left in him. Either way, people will be watching.
Marc McGowan is at Wimbledon with the support of Tennis Australia.
Watch Wimbledon 2024 from July 1 live and exclusively free on Nine and 9Now with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand with centre court in 4K on Stan Sport.
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