Nick Kyrgios will return to Grand Slam tennis for the first time in over two years at next month’s Australian Open.
The former world No.13 has been sidelined from the Tour for months due to injury after having multiple surgeries on his knee and wrist. Since reaching the quarter-finals of the 2022 US Open, Kyrgios has only been able to play three matches. He is playing at Melbourne Park using his protected ranking which players are entitled to if they have been absent from the game for six months or longer.
Kyrgios’ first tournament of 2025 will be the Brisbane International which takes place during the first week of January.
“I am feeling fit and healthy, and I am excited for my return to tennis following some time out of the sport,” he said in a statement issued last month.
“It has been a long journey of recovery to be where I am today.”
Another player on the comeback is former Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, who gave birth to a baby girl in April and will enter the Australian Open with a special ranking of No.15. The Swiss player is currently taking part in a WTA 125 event in France where she is through to the quarter-finals. This is only the third event of any kind she has played since returning from maternity leave.
“I set myself goals. I still have the goal of winning a Grand Slam title,” Bencic recently said during an interview with Tennismagazin. “I don’t know when and I don’t put myself under any time pressure, but it would be great before the end of my career. On the other hand, I’m already super happy with my career. Even if it’s over now, I can say that I’m mega satisfied. From a sporting point of view, the Olympic victory was the best thing I’ve experienced. It’s difficult to set a goal for next season because I don’t know what I can play yet. But I want to work my way up in the rankings.”
Kei Nishikori is also using his protected ranking and will be playing in the event for the first time since 2021.
Overall, every player currently ranked in the top 50 on both the men’s and women’s Tours has entered to play the Australian Open. Jannik Sinner is bidding to become only the third man in the past 20 years to defend his title in Melbourne. Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic seeks an 11th title at the event where he will be playing under the watchful eye of new coach Andy Murray. As for Carlos Alcaraz, Australia is the only Grand Slam he has yet to win in his career.
In the women’s tournament, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenkla could become the first woman since Martina Hingis (1997-1999) to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. Both Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff will be aiming to win the trophy for the first time.
The full entry list for the women’s tournament can be viewed here and the men’s event here.
