The Australian Open
Lukewarm Kyrgios uninspired despite comeback chatter
Nick Kyrgious is apparently promising another comeback to tennis after a near-total absence of two ATP seasons.
But the troubled Australian who once reached the Wimbledon final before mental issues and injuries took a toll, sounds decidedly lukewarm about his chance of seeing the effort through.
The 29-year-old whose last Tour match was in Stuttgart 16 months ago, hyped his plans to the Louis Theroux podcast, while at the same time admitting he won’t expend too much extra effort in the process.
He pointed to the painful retirement of Andy Murray after the Paris Olympics and the upcoming career farewell of Rafael Nadal – both of whom dragged through the final years of their ATP careers carrying a variety of inhibiting injuries.
“I look at Andy Murray and how Rafael is going out, I don’t want to be like that either, I don’t want to be kind of crawling to the finish line in a sense,” the Aussie said.
“What Andy Murray’s achieved in this sport is second to basically no one – unless you’re Novak (Djokovic), (Roger) Federer, or Nadal… the next person is Andy Murray.
“You deserve to go out, I think, a little bit more gracefully than he’s done. the surgeries, the pain, it’s just not worth it, in my opinion.”
Kyrgios, known as a tennis outlaw for much of his chequered career due to real-life and online spats with fellow players, detailed his periods of self-harm and depression all while trying to compete on the circuit.
He also copped to an alcohol problem of “20 or 30 drinks” a night.
“I’d drink like a fish,” he said. But then just wake up and play Nadal the next day. Give him a good run for his money.”
He also said he “genuinely contemplated” in 2019 around Wimbleodn final time – he lost to Nadal – and was treated in a London psychiatric hospital.
“Well, they wanted me to stay for a bit, but I was like: ‘I have other duties (Wimbledon final) that I need to fulfil’,” he said. “I nearly got him though. I nearly beat him.
“I was just struggling with being who I was, it was hard at that time and I didn’t feel like I could take a step back from the sport and kind of work on myself and get myself in the right headspace. I
“was just playing and playing and playing and kind of dealing with everything. And it was a dark time. Like I was drinking and I was spiralling out of control and I was continuing to play and travel. It was a lot.”
The player due to return to the Australian Open from January 12, said that life is not ideal at the moment despite his healing.
“I know my steps to get me out of my bad thinking now…I feel like I could go back into those habits in an instant. That’s how it feels.
“I feel like I could do those things, but I don’t want to. Like, before, I didn’t have any resistance. I don’t want to do that now.”
Main photo:- Nick Kyrgios appeared at AO2024 as a colour commentator
Jannik Sinner has broken his silence as the end of his three-month ban from tennis nears, with the world No. 1 admitting it will take “a little time to find myself again.”
The Italian gave his thoughts to SkySports Italia as he prepares to resume training in a few weeks with his ban for involuntary doping infractions ending on May 4, just a fortnight before the start of Roland Garros.
Sinner signed an agreement with anti-doping body WADA to serve time away from the sport which he dominated in 2024 after inadvertently ingesting a banned substance off the hands of his now-ex masseur last season.
The player called the entire episode “a little unfair” but accepted an ad-hoc sanction arrangement.
“It could have been much worse. We accepted (the suspension) quickly, even if I did not really agree .
“We had to choose the lesser of two evils and I think that’s what we did. What I’m going through is a little unfair, but if you look at it, it could have been much worse – it could have been even more unfair “
The 23-year-old added: “Once I made that decision, it took me a little time to find myself again. Other things happened, beyond this affair, which weren’t easy for me.
“It will take me a little more time to digest all of that, but I’m here. I can’t wait to make my return to Rome (Masters which begins a few days after his return).”
Sinner, a two-time Australian Open champion who also holds the US open crown. is unsure of his reception by peers when he comes back to the Tour in Rome.
“I don’t know what could happen . I’m certain of how things happened – I’m innocent.
“I want to play tennis and be very calm, that’s the end of it. I’m sure everything will be fine, even if it might take a while to get going again at first .”
Despite being out of action, Sinner has managed to maintain the top ATP ranking as rivals Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz continue to trail through poor results during their rival’s enforced absence.
Paula Badosa has given herself less than a month to be fit for the Madrid Masters after withdrawing from Miami with a recurring back problem.
The Spaniard who once touched second in the world retired before her fourth-round match in Florida more than a week ago.
She is hoping to be back on court when Madrid begins in three weeks.
The 27-year-old described her injury as “small hernia that has moved from the vertebra, but I’m being treated for the best treatments.
“My goal is to be back in Madrid.”
This year’s Australian Open semi-finalist added: “I’m doing well. I’m trying to take things positively, put things in perspective, and I’m doing fine.
“Physically? Well, I’ve had every test possible.
“This time I was more scared than I should have been because it was on the opposite side.
“I’ve always had discomfort on the right side, and now it’s on the left. I was worried it was another stress fracture, but fortunately it isn’t.”
Main photo:- Paula Badosa in Miami action before retiring – by ISF Ltd
Aryna Sabalenka shook off a one-hours rain delay as she defeated Jessica Pegula for the third time in a row, winning the Miami Masters on Saturday 7-5, 6-2.
The world No. 1 kept a firm grip on the top ranking spot after dismissing her American opponent after finals wins over Pegula in Cincinnati and New York last season.
Victory in just under 90 minutes was the second title of the season for Sabalenka, who lost 2025 finals at the Australian Open and earlier this month at Indian Wells to teenaged Mirra Andreeva.
The final began an hour late due to rain in South Florida.
Sabalenka broke on six of her 14 chances while dropping her own serve four times.
Sabalenka finally lifted the trophy here on her seventh appearance after reaching quarter-finals in 2021 and 2023.
The winner claimed her eighth title at the 1000 level while improving her record over Pegula to 7-2.
Sabalenka owns 19 career trophies including back-to-back Australian Opens and the US Open last September.
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