Kyrgios eyeing Grand Slam success as comeback looms

Nick Kyrgios is intent on winning a Grand Slam, revealing this week that this is the motivation behind his return to tennis in 2025.

The Australian has played just one match on the ATP Tour in the past two years after surging to the Wimbledon final and US Open quarter-finals in 2022.

Since then, injury issues have driven the 29-year-old to the brink of retirement.

However, speaking to Code Sports on Monday evening, Kyrgios shared why he is not walking away from tennis just yet.

“I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game,” he said.

“I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me.

“Made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money.

“But the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam.

“I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day.

“That will be my deep motivation.”

Kyrgios is a polarising figure in the tennis world, often labelled as the ‘bad boy’ of the sport.

There is no denying his talent, however, as the Canberra native has reached a career high of No.13 in the world rankings despite extended periods without a full-time coach.

He also has wins over Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, while he claimed the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis.

“I’m far from done, to be honest I’m in the later stages of my career, but I still have one or two years left,” he continued.

“I’m feeling extremely well.

“I’m hitting for around three hours every day now.

“My wrist from surgery has completely healed and I’m feeling motivated.”

Despite his lack of match play, Kyrgios is well in the market for the 2025 Australian Open title.

Online bookmakers have him at +4000 to win the tournament, level with the likes of Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Ben Shelton, Hubert Hurkacz, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe.

Sports betting news