Nick Kyrgios to end six-year French Open absence because of girlfriend

Nick Kyrgios is set to head back to Roland Garros for the first time in more than half a decade for only one reason.

Nick Kyrgios has backflipped on his self imposed exile. Photo: Getty Images and Instagram

Nick Kyrgios hates playing on clay, but the Aussie tennis star will make an exception for love.

Kyrgios has skipped the French Open for the past five seasons despite making the third round of the tournament twice, preferring to focus on his strength on the grass court season.

He has previously called the French Open “the worst grand slam” and called for it to be “taken off the calendar altogether”.

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But the 27-year-old is still planning to end the self-imposed exile from the event for the 2023 season to take his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi to the city of love.

Kyrgios has openly spoken about his hatred of playing on clay but will make an exception for his partner.

“My girlfriend wants to know Paris, so I’m going to play at Roland Garros 2023,” the Wimbledon finalist said.

“It will be good for me to earn some more money, although I would have preferred to stay at home.

“I know I can do great results on clay. I beat Roger (Federer), (Stan) Wawrinka, I played a final in Estoril.

“My girl wants to get to know the city so I will have to go this year.

“I’ve said it many times and I’m saying it again now. There are too many clay-court tournaments on the calendar. I see guys in the top-100 that I don’t even know, I wouldn’t recognise them if I crossed them on the street, and they’re there only because of the clay tournaments. I think it’s crazy.”

The pair have been loved up around the world. Photo: Instagram

The pair have been loved up around the world. Photo: Instagram

The loved up Kyrgios may not have won the Newcombe Medal after Ash Barty won Australian tennis’ top prize, but he is winning in life.

Despite cherry picking events he wants to play at, Kyrgios is ranked World No. 22 by the ATP while avoiding the week to week grind of the tour.

However, the Universal Tennis Ranking has Kyrgios sitting No. 2 behind Novak Djokovic.

IVE SAID IT BEFORE. THE CURRENT RANKING SYSTEM IS BASED ON CONSISTENCY & HOW MUCH YOU PLAY. NOT SKILL & FORM 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️ https://t.co/KOUVDXuJka

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 12, 2022

Kyrgios had a brilliant season, winning the Australian Open doubles alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, making the Wimbledon final and claiming the singles and doubles at the Citi Open in Washington.

Kyrgios has been loved up with his 21-year-old girlfriend Hatzi, saying earlier in the year a wedding would happen “very soon” when he reveal a tattoo of her name.

He also hinted at baby plans in the future.