‘Few chapters left’: Nick Kyrgios drops bombshell after teasing Aussie Open return

Nick Kyrgios’ return to the court is getting closer by the day but the Aussie has also cryptically teased an even bigger announcement.

Nick Kyrgios’ long-awaited return is almost here. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Nick Kyrgios is finally nearing a return to competitive tennis but in nearly the next breath, the controversial Aussie has also tease he has “only a few chapters left”.

The 29-year-old Aussie has played just one match on the ATP Tour since October 2022 as he battled serious knee and wrist injures which had many fans questioning if he’d ever be back.

And considering a move behind the microphone at major tournaments recently, it wasn’t clear that he’d feel the drive to return to the gruelling tour.

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However, speaking in an Instagram Live broadcast on Tuesday, Kyrgios revealed he’d make his return to the court at the Australian Open next year, suggesting he’d also play in a few warm up events heading into the season’s first major.

After Kyrgios pulled out of the Tokyo 500 tournament in October 2022, his only match was a straight sets loss to Yubing Wu in the first round of the Stuttgart Open in June last year, having pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open after failing to recover from his knee injury.

There were some positive signs for the 2022 Wimbledon finalist as he played in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown event in the lead up to this year’s US Open.

But Kyrgios had tongues wagging with a post after the live broadcast ended, writing: “Tennis … damn … it’s been A CRAZY JOURNEY!!!! It all started because of you. FOREVER GRATEFUL. I love all my FANS. There are only a few chapters left …”

Kyrgios is almost back. Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Kyrgios will be back on the court for more than just promo photos. Photo: Instagram

The post appears to suggest Kyrgios is considering his future in the sport.

One fan commented: “Go out with a bang and on your terms Kygs, excited to see what’s up your sleeve.”

The comment is not out of character for the Aussie who has regularly spoken about retiring while he’s still young.

He told the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast last December: “I’m exhausted, I’m tired. I have had three surgeries now that, I’m only 28 years old, I always wanted to have a family and not be in pain. When I get up, I can’t walk without pain.

“It’s a tough gig.”

A month later at the Australian Open, Kyrgios wrote a column for Nine titled I’m contemplating retirement and won’t be available for the Paris Olympics, opening with the comment: “The reality is, there is a part of me that knows my time in the sport may be over. And I’m OK with that.”

Soon after he took to his Instagram Stories to rubbish the claims that he himself sparked.

And after returning to the court in New York for the Ultimate Tennis Showdown exhibition, Kyrgios was blown away with his own level after defeating Casper Ruud.

“I wasn’t expecting to play this well at all,” he said.

“Coming out here and still having that level, it’s amazing. What a way to come back.

“I’ve been putting in some serious work, every single day back home.

“Obviously pretty emotional, it’s been a brutal 11 months. I didn’t know if I was going to play tennis again with the state of my wrist. It was literally conversations of never playing again.”

Kyrgios has been impressing behind the microphone. Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images

Kyrgios was commentating for ESPN at the US Open. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images

But his tentative return to the court was overshadowed by his explosive comments on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner’s drug storm.

“Ridiculous — whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned substance … you should be gone for two years. Your performance was enhanced,” Kyrgios wrote on X.

He doubled down on ESPN, fuming over other players who have been banned over similar issues.

“I just want a level playing field for everyone,” Kyrgios said.

“This is why I was against coaches in the player box. Not every player has a coach. Not every player in qualifying can afford a coach. If the playing field isn’t the same for everyone, you kind of lose the integrity of the sport a little bit.”

The Sinner case has taken a twist recently however, with the World Anti-Doping Agency appealing the decision to clear the world No. 1 and seeking a ban of up to two years.

Kyrgios was also accused of misogyny over a comment about ex-girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya, who is currently dating Sinner, at the US Open.

Originally published as ‘Few chapters left’: Nick Kyrgios drops bombshell after teasing Aussie Open return