Nick Kyrgios says he will never return to his best form after undergoing multiple surgeries but isn’t planning on stepping away from the sport anytime soon.
The former Wimbledon finalist made his return to singles competition at the Brisbane International on Tuesday, where he suffered a 66-minute 6-3, 6-4 loss to Aleksandar Kovacevic. Kyrgios hit a total of 10 winners compared to his rival’s tally of 27 in what was his first Tour-level match since March.
“Quick match, but he’s world class … he was lights out,” the Australian Associated Press quoted Kyrgios as saying.
“He’s locked in, a hell of a player, one to watch for sure.”
Kyrgios’ early exit from Brisbane comes as he awaits a decision on whether he will receive a wildcard for the Australian Open, which begins on January 18th. If he is not awarded one, he will have to play in the qualifying rounds next week instead of the Kooyong Classic, which he has entered.
As for his current form, the former top-20 player believes he can retrieve some momentum in his tennis if he is able to get some match play under his belt without suffering any injuries. During his career, he has suffered from issues with his right elbow, left wrist, hip, knees, shoulders and collarbone.
“This is a good building block. If I was to string a few (matches) together, who knows where I’ll be in six to 12 months’ time,” he said.
“Right now, I’m OK with taking a loss on my chin.”
Whilst he is optimistic about the future, Kyrgios also admits that his glory days are over. He has won seven titles on the ATP Tour, reached a ranking high of No.13 and has beaten every member of the Big Four during his career.
“I genuinely thought I was the best player in the world,” he commented on his 2022 season.
“After you have those surgeries, I guess they pull you down and you don’t have that belief anymore. It’s sad in a way.
“That’s just the reality. People out there think you go under the knife, come back and you’re the same player.
“It’s not how it is. That’s just sport; you can’t get too upset and that’s why you’ve got to be grateful for moments like that doubles match the other night.”
Kyrgios is currently ranked 670th in the world.
