Nick Kyrgios says 'level is still there' but how will wrist injury impact Australian Open as he returns to Grand Slam?
Updated 08/01/2025 at 08:37 GMT
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Will Nick Kyrgios be fit for the 2025 Australian Open? The 29-year-old returned at the Brisbane International but said after his first-round defeat that he was playing with "constant pain" in his wrist. The Australian Open starts on January 12, live on Eurosport and discovery+. Kyrgios has been named in Australia's Davis Cup team but has pulled out of an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Nick Kyrgios made his long-awaited return from tennis at the Brisbane International - but will he be good to go at the Australian Open?
Kyrgios impressed in his first singles match in 18 months as he pushed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard all the way before losing in a tie-breaker in the third set.
He also teamed up with Novak Djokovic in doubles, winning one match before losing in the quarter-finals.
However, Kyrgios raised concerns about his health at the Australian Open because of "throbbing" pain with his wrist.
The 29-year-old was off the tour for all of 2024 after undergoing surgery on his wrist and needed treatment on it during the loss to Mpetshi Perricard.
Will he be able to play at the Australian Open for the first time in three years?
Kyrgios: I WILL DO MY BEST
Against most other opponents, it's probable Kyrgios would not just have impressed on his return to tennis in Brisbane, but taken the victory too.
He didn’t drop serve once against Mpetshi Perricard and put in a strong performance throughout.
However, Mpetshi Perricard also didn't lose a service game and fired down 36 aces as he won 7-6(2) 6-7(4) 7-6(3).
It was a major workout for Kyrgios’ wrist on his return to the court, and left him unsure about how he might fare in Melbourne.
"After today, I'm super excited for the Australian Open. If I'm able to play, I'm able to play. But the reality kind of set in for me," said Kyrgios.
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"That's a best-of-three match with my wrist. If I'm able to [play], not only is a Grand Slam mentally really draining, it's physically a grind.
"I think I almost need a miracle, and I need, like, the stars to align for my wrist to hold up in a Grand Slam for sure."
The Australian Open starts on January 12, live on Eurosport and discovery+, and Kyrgios will be unseeded as he is using a protected ranking to enter the main draw.
He has raised concerns over his fitness after withdrawing from an exhibition match against Novak Djokovic.
"I’ve had an ultrasound on my abdominal and have a grade one strain," Kyrgios said. "Will be resting and doing everything I can to be okay for the Australian Open."
Kyrgios is also set to enter the doubles with Thanasi Kokkinakis, aiming to repeat their 2022 title-winning run.
Kyrgios gave further insight into the condition of his wrist when he answered a question from a fan on Instagram last week.
"My wrist will never be the same," he wrote.
"But I can manage it - it all really depends on how much pain I want to deal with. Thiem [Dominic] & Delpo [Juan Martin del Potro] understand my pain. I will do my best - my level is still there!"
Kyrgios has not played his home Grand Slam since 2022.
He says he is "not going to take anything for granted" as he returns to the sport after playing just one match in the last two years.
"I’m going to go out there and play. It’s literally going to be a day-by-day symptomatic injury moving forward. If I play a long match, jam it the right way, who knows how it’s going to pull up the next day? That’s the type of injury it is."
The draw for the Australian Open takes place on Thursday, January 9 from 3.30am UK time.
Kyrgios named in Davis Cup team
Kyrgios is set to make his Davis Cup return for Australia after five years away.
He hasn’t played for his country since November 2019 but has been named in the squad to face Sweden in Stockholm on January 31 and February 1.
Kyrgios joins Alex de Minaur, Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the team.
Australia, captained by Lleyton Hewitt, made the semi-finals of the Davis Cup in 2024 after runner-up finishes the previous two years.
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Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+
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