Nick Kyrgios says he’s back to rescue tennis from ‘boring’ stars – as he sheds light on whether new injury will wreck his Australian Open
Nick Kyrgios has told tennis fans he is back to save the sport from boring stars, as he insisted the tour would have been worse off without him during his 18-month injury.
Although Kyrgios has remained outspoken on a variety of controversial topics and returned to the Grand Slams in a broadcasting role during his injury hiatus, the Australian star boasted on Friday that “the sport has become a bit mundane” without him.
The 29-year-old had been out of action for almost two years but returned to the ATP Tour last week, playing doubles alongside Novak Djokovic, while also attempting a return to singles at the Brisbane International.
Kyrgios, one of the sport’s greatest entertainers, had fans at the Pat Rafter Arena last week with many eager to see him practice at Melbourne Park just before the Australian Open starts.
Despite this, doubts remain over his fitness after Kyrgios announced he would not play with the Serb in a doubles practice match on Thursday after picking up a new injury.
Kyrgios said today he was feeling good and now has three days to recover before returning to court.
Kyrgios (pictured during his practice session in Melbourne on Friday) thinks the sport has been in worse shape during his 18-month break due to injury
Never anything less than a controversial commentary, the polarizing Australian is one of the biggest draws at his home Grand Slam
It’s fair to say that tennis would be less entertaining without Kyrgios.
“I think, I mean, we watch sports because we want personalities. I think we also look at tennis, it’s that one-on-one aspect, now coaching is allowed,” Kyrgios said.
‘But I really enjoy tennis because it was one-on-one. You had to watch that person figure it out over a period of four or five hours. You saw how many emotions one person experiences. It’s like drama, theater.
“For me personally back, I think it adds some question marks to what’s going to happen today. I like that.
“Every time I step on the field, I don’t know if I’m going to be super controversial in a good or bad way.
‘Throughout my career it hasn’t always been good, but it has added a lot of excitement to the game.
‘I think it’s important. There are so many good players on the tour now. I don’t think there are that many contrasting personalities.’
Kyrgios and doubles partner Novak Djokovic delighted the Brisbane crowd on New Year’s Day – and he believes the sport needs an injection of personality
On his return to tennis in Brisbane, Kyrgios needed a medical check-up on his surgically repaired wrist, but a new injury left fans sweating over whether he would play at the Australian Open.
But Kyrgios believes his return can only be good for tennis.
Next week he will make his return to the Australian Open and will face British star Jacob Fearnley.
“I think it’s healthy for me to be back and playing. It doesn’t really weigh on me though. I’ve always been someone who played my style of tennis, and I don’t think my personality has changed since I was 10 years old. Anyone who knows me knows that I have been the way I am now.
‘I think it’s good to be back. I think it’s important. I think the sport became a bit mundane.”
He also said some experts have underestimated how hard he has worked to regain full fitness.
“Yeah, I think I was talking about this yesterday. “I feel like when you’re injured, people think you don’t play that much tennis and you don’t do that much, but actually you do a little bit more,” Kyrgios said.
‘It feels like I haven’t been away from the match. I have been competitive, but I don’t feel like it. I feel like I’m playing more tennis, more than ever.
‘I think in training I try to simulate the competition load, that the body has to get used to it again, anyone who has had an injury that has prevented them from playing for a year, and knows that it is so difficult to deal with the load to go, because you’re trying to prepare for the match intensity.
Kyrgios added, encouraged by his performances in Brisbane
“I think that’s what I was doing. After Brisbane it was really encouraging. It was clear that my body was struggling a bit. I thought, OK, I’m going to try to build on that. After that he obviously had a bit more setbacks.
“I think it’s just part of the game. Problems. I don’t think anyone really feels 100 percent. Look, as long as it’s not something like my wrist again, I think I can handle it.’