Nick Kyrgios confirms he will return to tennis at 2025 Australian Open

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has revealed when he will be returning to the court this summer in news that will delight tennis fans.

Nick Kyrgios has announced he will be playing the 2025 Australian Open as he ramps up his comeback to professional tennis.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley sounded hopeful earlier this week that the biggest local drawcard would be on court, but stopped short of confirming his attendace.

“The one we’re keeping an eye on will be Nick Kyrgios – Nick will be back,” Tiley said.

“Well, like every other player, we’d love to have Nick back.

“We know he’s out there practising and preparing for the summer. He loves playing in Australia.

“We expect him to be back and we know he’s on track with that preparation, but a lot can play out in the next couple of months. But we look forward to seeing Nick back.”

Now Kyrgios, 29, has himself confirmed he will contest his home grand slam for the first time in two years.

Speaking on a panel at SXSW Sydney on Thursday, Kyrgios said: “I will be playing the Australia Open this summer.

“I just miss being out there, playing in front of a home crowd. We’ve got such a crowd of guys at the moment at the moment like Alex de Minaur playing amazing tennis.”

Nick Kyrgios will be playing the Australian Open this summer. (Photo by Nina Franova/Getty Images for SXSW Sydney)

Wearing a maroon cap emblazoned with the word “Resilient”, Kyrgios opened up about the long road back from a wrist injury that required surgery.

“The injury I had was brutal,” he said.

“The surgeon said I probably wouldn’t be able to play again. But I said whatever, just try and get me another two to three years of my career. Everything has gone semi-well.”

Kyrgios sounded well aware that his legacy will be defined by whether he is able to win a grand slam singles title before hanging up his racquet for good.

“It’s been a brutal last couple of years,” he said.

“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 has been riddled by injuries for two years. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Kyrgios after losing the 2022 Wimbledon final to Novak Djokovic. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Kyrgios won the 2022 Australian Open doubles title with Thanasi Kokkinakis and went on to make the Wimbledon final that same year, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.

But he has barely been on the court since a gut-wrenching quarterfinal loss to Karen Khachnov in the fourth round of the 2022 US Open.

Kyrgios pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open due to a knee injury that required surgery to remove a cyst caused by a tear in his lateral meniscus.

The big serving Aussie tore a ligament in his wrist while preparing for Wimbledon in 2023, forcing him to step away from the tour.

Kyrgios has done commentary stints on the BBC and ESPN and has leaned into various investment opportunities while making his way back from injury.

“Tennis my top priority,” he said at SXSW.

“I’m stilll figuring out how to beat the best players in the world. That’s my sole goal — how am I training, what can I improve on, stay healthy.”

He beat World No. 8 Casper Ruud in an exhibition match in New York before the US Open in August.

A former World No. 13, Kyrgios has fallen out of the world rankings but is a certainty to receive a wildcard into the main draw.

His best result at the Australian Open is a quarterfinals appearance back in 2015.

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios confirms he will return to tennis at 2025 Australian Open