Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios Team Up For Incredible Kobe Bryant Tribute

Nick Kyrgios will be making his return to tennis... kind of. After missing most of 2023 due to a wrist injury, Kyrgios is playing in the US Open Mixed Madness alongside Japanese star Naomi Osaka. During their game, both players paid tribute to an NBA legend.

In their first match against Taylor Fritz and Amanda Anisimova, Kyrgios and Osaka rocked matching Kobe Bryant jerseys. Kyrgios wore the classic gold Bryant jersey, while Osaka went with the Mamba-inspired black jersey with Kobe's name.

The duo unfortunately lost in the semifinals to Fritz and Anisimova. Still, it was a solid outing for the duo, especially for the returning Kyrgios.

The US Open Mixed Madness is one of the events of the US Open Fanweek. Aside from Osaka and Kyrgios, the event features Stefanos Tsitsipas, Coco Gauff, Paula Badosa and Ben Shelton. In the end, it was the Tsitsipas and Badosa couple that won the event over Fritz and Anisimova.

This was Kyrgios' first game since January of 2023. Knee and wrist injuries sidelined him for the entirety of the year, with the former 13th-ranked player undergoing surgery to alleviate the pain. The Mixed Madness challenge is him testing the waters to see if he's ready.

As for Osaka, the Japanese star's last tournament was the 2024 Olympics. Unfortunately, her campaign ended in the third round at the hands of Markéta Vondrousová in the third round. She is set to participate in the upcoming US Open as a wildcard.