Fears Kyrgios won’t return to professional tennis

NICK Kyrgios’ withdrawal from a second consecutive Australian Open campaign has raised questions about his future at the top of professional tennis.

So much so, that The First Serve’s Brett Phillips has said he has doubts that the Australian superstar will ever return.

Kyrgios, 28, delivered a blow to Australian Open organisers on Saturday when announcing that he wouldn’t be able to take part in the first Grand Slam of 2024.

“[I have] obviously had a really tough year with injury, had that knee surgery and came back a little too soon, [which] set me back a little bit [and I have] had some wrist issues,” Kyrgios told subscribers on Onlyfans.

“So, this is a very disappointing time for me, but I won’t be able to compete at the 2024 Australian Open.”

Krygios described the setback as “heartbreaking”. The 28-year-old withdrew on the eve of this year’s Australian Open and has managed just one game this year, a first round loss in Germany in June.

With Kyrgios declaring himself out of the Australian Open more than a month before that tournament begins, Phillips said he fears for the future of Australia’s most talented player.

“The injuries have caught up with him. I actually think he’s going to struggle to get back, to be totally honest,” Phillips told SEN Breakfast.

“There’s a plethora of stuff he can do away from tennis. He’s dabbled in commentary recently and made a good fist of that, we know he’s got a good IQ and he’s got his foundation, he’ll be in demand.

“I mean he’s 28. Nick Kyrgios never spoke about being a tennis player who was going to play deep into his 30s and have a long career of tennis, he spoke about being possibly retired two years ago.

“I think these injuries, the knee, wrist, they’re two of the worst you can get in tennis.

“[Juan Martin] Del Potro couldn’t come back from a wrist injury, Roger Federer couldn’t get back from a couple of knee surgeries… the physical demands of the game, if you look what has happened since Nick has been largely inactive, the breed of talent that’s come through, they’re at a whole other level.”

Furthermore, Phillips said he believes that if Kyrgios does return, he may struggle to mix it with the best.

While men’s tennis is still dominated by 36-year-old Novak Djokovic, who won another three Grand Slams in 2023, the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune, all of who are 22 or younger and in the top 10, loom large as the next generation.

“Kyrgios could come back and he’s got his serve which could make him ultra-competitive but to go with these guys off the ground, your lateral movement, physicality, that’s never been Nick’s strong suit, to be totally honest,” Phillips said.

“So I’m fascinated. I think the longer he’s out it’s going to be harder for him to come back and whether he’s got the total desire to come back, he’s got so much going on that I don’t know if it’s absolute top billing for him to be a professional tennis player first and foremost, we’ve questioned that for a number of years.

“We’re just used to him not playing, which is the reality of the situation.”

Kyrgios’ career high ranking came in 2016 when he reached number 13 in the world, while he’s amassed over $12 million in earnings as a professional tennis player.

He has committed to a professional return and for now, will be a TV presence at Melbourne Olympic Park in January.

“I was so close to winning a Grand Slam [making last year’s Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic], I want to make sure that my body is going to have the time it needs to come back, so please bear with me,” Kyrgios said.

“Even though I won’t be there competing this year at the AO, I still will be around, commentating matches, being around, I’ve got some special things planned, so please be excited still.

“You know I’ll be there and hopefully see all the fans. I’ll see you there.”

The Australian Open begins on 14 January, the first time in its history that the tournament will start on a Sunday.

– SEB MOTTRAM/ SEN