Aussie tennis legend Wally Masur issues a blunt warning to Nick Kyrgios: ‘it comes down to motivation’

Australian tennis great Wally Masur believes injured star Nick Kyrgios is ‘critical’ to the sport and hopes the former Wimbledon finalist can return to the court while the window for Grand Slam success remains open.

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

It comes as the tennis landscape is changing, with the sport’s ‘big four’ no longer dominating every event.

That means players like Kyrgios will be competing for the majors if he can get back to his best.

While world number 1 Novak Djokovic is having an absurd season, winning 27 of his 28 Grand Slam matches, Swiss legend Roger Federer is retired and veterans Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have struggled in recent years with serious injuries.

Therefore, Masur says the door is open for 28-year-old Kyrgios to come back and dominate thanks to his impressive serve.

Kyrgios, 28, has played just one match on the ATP circuit this season due to injury (pictured, after knee surgery)

The biggest problem is getting back on the court, with Kyrgios dropping out of the ATP rankings after playing just one match this year in Stuttgart in June.

“I honestly don’t know (what his plans are). I heard he is training and recuperating in Canberra,” the former Australian Davis Cup captain said at the announcement of the draw for the United Cup in Sydney.

‘Roger (Federer) is retired, Rafa (Nadal) is a bit broken and Andy (Murray) plays with one hip, so the big four are pretty much dismantled, although Novak (Djokovic) is obviously still there, so there are opportunities ( for Kyrgios to come back and win big events).

“I thought it could be the next group of Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas, but Carlos Alcaraz is the one who came through and emerged.

“Can Nick come back and play a role in all of this? Absolutely, because anyone who serves in the same way he does is always competitive. He might 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 quite crucial to Australian and world tennis so it would be good to have him back.”

Fellow Aussie tennis great Mark Philippoussis says Kyrgios needs to work hard on his rehabilitation after surgery

Two-time Grand Slam finalist Mark Philippoussis would like to see Kyrgios dominate the ATP tour, but says the Aussie great must first put all his time and energy into getting his body right.

There are positive signs of that happening, with Kyrgios posting pictures on social media of himself warming up on the pitch.

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

‘After the operation you have to start the rehabilitation work.

“I don’t know what he does off the field, and I think a lot of people have questioned his dedication when it comes to his training in the gym and on the practice court.

“It doesn’t matter how talented you are, when you have that first operation – especially because you’re a big boy – if you don’t do the right things, it’s hard.

“You have to work twice as hard and if you don’t, there can be an avalanche effect.”