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
ATP
Kyrgios due to resurface on German grass
Nick Kyrgios is being touted for a return to tennis after playing just one singles match all season, with the controversial Australian due in the lineups for Stuttgart and Halle in June.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist who turns 31 in a week, has been added to the entry lists for the pair of run-up events prior to the grass-court major which starts on June 29.
Kyrgios, who has missed months on end due to injury and motivational worries, has played just one Grand Slam match since 2022, losing in the Australian Open first round in 2025.
His lone outing this season was an ATP defeat in Brisbane on January 6.
Nevertheless, the acquired taste is feted as a crowd-puller and will have German organisers on alert as to his eventual availability.
“Nick Kyrgios has been one of the most dazzling personalities in world tennis for years,” Halle tournament organisers said in a statement.
“The Australian is known for his exceptional playing style, characterised by one of the best serves on the tour, spectacular winners, and great creativity.
“At the same time, his emotional personality and charisma attract considerable attention far beyond the sport.”
Stuttgart start the day after the Roland Garros final while Halle follows a week later in northern Germany from June 13-21.
ATP
Djoko dropping hints that career has short shelf life
Novak Djokovic has been making it plain that the end of his career is approaching, with the 38-year-old dropping his strongest hint ever about his future on court.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion who has been keeping his ATP scheduling options open and has competed this season only at the Australian Open (finals loss to Carlos Alcaraz) and winning two rounds last month at Indian Wells.
“Tennis is still very important to me, but it’s no longer everything,” the Serb told Esquire Australia, adding that family matters and two children are starting to take precedence in his life.
“It’s one of the biggest challenges – finding the right balance between tennis and family life, especially as my children are growing and have school commitments, so they can’t travel with me as much as before.
“When I’m on the court, I’m motivated not just to win, but to set an example – to show them values like dedication, resilience, and love for what you do. That motivation is very powerful and very personal.”
Main photo:- Novak Djokovic was runner up to Carlos Alcaraz in AO26 – by ISF Ltd
ATP
Tentative Tsitsipas slams former coach Goran
Fading former top 10 regular Stefanos Tsitsipas has lashed out at one-time coach Goran Ivanisevic, accusing the former Wimbledon winner of unfair criticism during their brief collaboration last season.
Greek Tsitsipas once stood among the big beasts of the ATP, achieving a top ranking of this in the world, with Grand Slam finals at Roland Garros and Melbourne.
But with his ranking now at 49th, the 27-year-old remains in a struggle with his game and blames most of his troubles on a lingering back injury.
Croat Ivanisevic, 54, had a brief spell with Tsitsipas last summer as the player attempted to break away from his longtime coach, his father Apostolos.
But family ties proved to be too strong, with Ivanisevic given the elbow after a Wimbledon first-round retirement.
Tsitsipas has complained of unfair criticism from his one-time mentor after Ivanisevic – who formerly coached Novak Djokovic – let loose on the player’s work ethic.
“He has to find a solution for his back issue. I was shocked. I’ve never seen such a poorly prepared player in my life,” Ivanisevic told Croat outlet SportKlub recalling the incident.
“Me, at my age and with this bad knee, I’m three times in better shape than him,” the former world No. 2 added. “In the end, I didn’t say anything bad. Everything I said was true and proved to be so.”
While Ivanisevic has moved on to work with French youngster Arthur Fils, Tsitsipas continues his comeback struggle.
“I didn’t see any point in it. If it was a way of him pushing me into working harder and getting my s*** together, it was definitely not the right tactic.
“I was really hurt,” he told London’s Times.
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