Nick Kyrgios set for a comeback at the Australian Open

Nick Kyrgios will finally appear fighting on the court at the Australian Open next month. The Australian has been absent from the Grand Slam proceedings since his quarter-final exit from the 2022 US Open. Having faced multiple injuries since then, Kyrgios played sporadically until 2023, when he marked a long-extended break from the court. Now, the 29-year-old is eyeing a comeback as he enters the Australian Open with the protected ranking of 21.

Nick Kyrgios and Belinda Bencic among the players entering the Australian Open with protected rankings

The entries for the 2025 Australian Open were revealed on Friday and promised a thrilling lineup for the Grand Slam event. With no major withdrawals announced so far, top seeds like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Novak Djokovic will join the proceedings in Melbourne this year. Moreover, the upcoming season will mark the return of prominent names who were on a sabbatical due to one reason or another. Among the players making a comeback through the Australian Open is Nick Kyrgios. Kyrgios, never one to be off the headlines, has been absent from the court for almost a couple of years now.

Kyrgios last played a Grand Slam in 2022 when he lost to Karen Khachanov in the quarter-final of the US Open. While Kyrgios tried his luck against incessant injury concerns, his moves at the ATP events in Japan and Stuttgart proved fruitless. Effectively, the 29-year-old Australian has not played any tennis matches since his first-round exit from the 2023 Stuttgart Open. 

The player has since suffered from multiple injuries, including issues with his knee and wrist. Moreover, the Australian ace had to undergo surgery for his knee injury. However, after a long-extended break from the ATP Tour, the former Wimbledon finalist is ready to pick up the racquet again. Earlier in an interaction this year, the Australian had explained the difficulties he faced in his recovery and how he aims to excel in Melbourne.

“I will be playing the Australian Open this summer,” he had said earlier this year. “The injury I had was brutal. The surgeon said I probably wouldn’t be able to play again,” Kyrgios further shared. “But I said whatever, just try and get me another two to three years of my career. It’s been a brutal last couple of years, but just being out there to play in front of a home crowd. I just want to be out there, lighting up the crowd and playing in front of my own country.”

“Whether it is good or bad, it will certainly be a lot of fun, for sure. I am looking forward to it. My only motivation to come back and play is to try and win a grand slam, and I’ll give it one more shot,” Kyrgios expressed.

Apart from Kyrgios, who enters the Australian Open with the protected ranking of 21, former Olympic medalist Belinda Bencic, who gave birth to a daughter in April, will also enter the tournament with the protected ranking of 15. Moreover, former World No.4 ranked Kei Nishikori, who last played in 2021, will also enter the 2025 edition of the Grand Slam through his protected ranking. Kyrgios, meanwhile, will kick off his season early in the Brisbane International, where Novak Djokovic will also make an appearance to prepare for his record 25th Grand Slam chase on the ATP Tour.