Nick Kyrgios returns to court with uncertain tennis future: ‘I didn’t think I’d be back’

Nick Kyrgios really likes this version of himself post-injury.

The Australian tennis star hasn’t played since partnering Thanasi Kokkinakis at the season-ending ATP Finals in November 2022, aside from a brief one-match appearance during an ATP event in Stuttgart, Germany in June 2023, due to wrist and knee surgeries.

After months of rehabbing, the 29-year-old Kyrgios returned to competition this week and played in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown New York at Forest Hills Stadium on Thursday.

“When you come back from injury like this, you learn a lot about yourself. I wouldn’t be able to get through this if I wasn’t super patient,” Kyrgios told The Post ahead of his match against Casper Ruud in the debut of UTS New York, which runs through Friday. “Most athletes, if they had these injuries, wouldn’t be as patient as I’ve been with it.

“It’s been a long process to be able to hit a tennis ball again, to be honest. I was hitting with completely fluffy balls like you would at 10 years old and now it’s like kind of back to normal.

“I still have heavy expectations of myself (post-injury). I want to get back out there and compete for titles and win big matches… Especially with my wrist… I think I’ve come back pretty well. I’m playing tennis again.”

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In January, Kyrgios said he was at a crossroads in his career in an op-ed for The Sydney Morning Herald, titled: “I’m contemplating retirement and won’t be available for the Paris Olympics.”

He followed that up with an Instagram story that said any speculation he was “retired” is “absolute nonsense” and said he’d be back.

Kyrgios, who also has a rising broadcast career, kept his word.

He said the UTS is “going to be a good barometer” in his recovery and that future tournaments are in his plans.

“I’m back to the point now where I can serve pretty much 100 percent and play the tennis that I was once playing before the injuries. But now, I’m back playing. To be at the point where I’m considering playing the UTS and playing tournaments is a success in itself.

“I just take it day by day… There were parts of the recovery when I didn’t think I’d be back again.”

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Kyrgios made it clear he still has a lot left in the tank on the court.

However, he’s not slowing down his ventures outside the sport, which include his podcast “Good Trouble,” commentating and broadcasting.

“I knew that tennis was the vehicle to open up life. I never really was the type of guy that woke up and did everything — and devoted every second and every moment on to the tennis court.

“And I don’t say that’s a bad thing because, you know, there are plenty of players who do that and they’re super dedicated [down to] every meal, every kind of action, every minute is ‘what will make me better on the tennis court?’ And that’s fine too.

“But that’s just never been my kind of personality. I’ve had a lot of success as a tennis player, and it’d be selfish to always be wanting more. There’s there’s plenty of athletes around the world that don’t have the success that I’ve had, and I think it makes me enjoy the kind of latest status of my career more and more.”

Kyrgios was calm and confident when he explained that he was at peace with his tennis journey.

“[Now] I’m just in a day-by-day process and enjoying warming up or doing things. I can’t just go on to court now without warming up and I’m playing. Those are the little things that I kind of enjoy doing now.

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“Whenever that day is when I finish playing, there’s plenty of things I can continue to do and have an impact in the world — and I guess leave my mark in other ways.

“I don’t introduce myself as, ‘Hi, I’m Nick, the tennis player.’ There’s plenty of different ways to communicate, I think.”

Kyrgios served as a commentator for ESPN and Eurosport at this year’s Australian Open in January.

He will continue his commentating work with ESPN at the 2024 U.S. Open next week.

“Commentating was quite easy,” Kyrgios said. “I mean, I’ve played tennis since I was seven years old, but all I’ve really known for the last 20 years of my life — watching it, playing it, being around it so much.

“But, interviewing [guests] on ‘Good Trouble’ I guess it came easy, but it was definitely quite intimidating at times while asking some pretty personal questions. You got to be a bit wary and careful of their feelings… I think I’ve been getting better with every episode.”

Kyrgios also played in an exhibition doubles match with Naomi Osaka as part of the inaugural Mixed Madness event during fan week ahead of the U.S. Open.

The duo, who wore matching Kobe Bryant Lakers jerseys, lost to Taylor Fritz and Amanda Anisimova,

The late Bryant would have turned 46 on Friday.

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