‘There are opportunities’: Tennis legend backs Nick Kyrgios to compete for grand slams but offers one key warning to injured star

Nick Kyrgios has played just one competitive match this year, but an Aussie tennis great says he can return and compete for grand slams.

Wally Masur says Nick Kyrgios can still compete for grand slams as long as the tennis star gets his body right following an injury-ravaged year. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Wally Masur says injured star Nick Kyrgios is “crucial” to tennis and hopes the former Wimbledon finalist can return to the court with the window still open for grand slam success.

Kyrgios has played just one match in 2023 after knee surgery ruled him out of the Australian Open and then a wrist injury derailed plans of a Wimbledon return where he pushed Novak Djokovic to four sets in last year’s final.

Nick Kyrgios showed last year at Wimbledon that he has the game to match it with the world’s best players. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The tennis landscape is changing with the sport’s big four no longer dominating every event. That means guys like Kyrgios compete for big titles if he can return.

While world No.1 Novak Djokovic is coming off an absurd season, winning 27 of his 28 grand slam matches, Swiss legend Roger Federer has retired, and veterans Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have had to contend with major injuries over the past few years.

It’s why Masur says the door is open for Kyrgios, 28, to come back and dominate tennis again on the back of his imposing serve and wide array of trickery that has delighted crowds everywhere he’s gone.

The biggest issue is getting back on the court, with Kyrgios dropping out of the rankings having played just one match this year in Stuttgart back in June.

Injuries have been a major issue for Kyrgios, who posted this photo to Instagram after his knee surgery. Picture: Instagram

“I honestly don’t know (what his plans are). I’ve heard that he’s been training and doing rehab in Canberra for that very eventuality,” the Australian tennis legend said at the draw announcement for the United Cup that won’t feature Kyrgios.

“Roger has retired, Rafa is a little busted and Andy is playing with one hip, so the big four have been pretty much dismantled, although Novak is obviously still there, so there are opportunities (for Kyrgios to come back and win big events).

“I thought it might have been the next group of Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas, but Carlos Alcaraz has been the one who has busted through and emerged.

“Can Nick come back and play a part in all this? Absolutely, because anyone who serves like that is always competitive. He might even have the best serve in the game right now.

“Can he do it? Yes, but it probably comes down to motivation and making sure his body doesn’t let him down.

“He’s pretty crucial for Australian and world tennis, so it would be good to have him back.”

Kyrgios has the talent to be competitive when he returns, but it all depends on how his rehab goes. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Two-time grand slam finalist Mark Philippoussis would love to see Kyrgios back on court and dominating the ATP tour but says the Aussie ace must first put all his time and energy into getting his body right.

There are positive signs of that happening, with Kyrgios posting photos on social media of him warming up strongly on court.

“As soon as I heard he was having knee surgery, I thought this was going to be tough for him because you need to be in a certain shape before you go into surgery which changes everything in terms of rehab,” he said.

“After surgery, you need to be putting in the rehab work.

“I don’t know what he does off the court, and I think a lot of people have questioned his commitment as far as his training in the gym and on the practice court.

“It doesn’t matter how talented you are, when you have that first surgery – especially being a big guy – if you’re not doing the right things (then it’s tough).

“You need to work twice as hard, and if you don’t do that, it could be an avalanche effect.”