Nick Kyrgios says he will end his six-year absence from the French Open in 2023

Nick Kyrgios has confirmed that he will compete again at next year’s French Open after a six-year absence, all because his girlfriend wants to see Paris.

The Wimbledon finalist from Australia has given the European clay court a wide berth for years as it feels too much like hard work.

He once even dismissed Roland Garros as the worst Grand Slam of all, saying the event “stuck” and should be removed from the calendar.

Nick Kyrgios has revealed that he will play at Roland Garros for the first time in six years

But it seems that love has conquered his hate for red things.

‘Yes, I’m playing the French Open, my girlfriend [Costeen Hatzi] You want to see Paris, why not? Kyrgios told reporters in Riyadh last week after being knocked out in the first round of the Diriyah Tennis Cup exhibition event.

‘Collect some more money [in Paris] […] I have played well on clay, I have won [Roger] federer, [Stan] Wawrinka, I’ve played a final on clay [at Estoril in 2015] but usually at that time of year, I like to spend time at home.

‘Because if I don’t, then I’m traveling eight months out of the year, it’s too much.

He said he will play in the French Open as his girlfriend Costteen Hatzi (right) wants to see Paris.

The Australian revealed that he wants to spend more time with his family and girlfriend at home in Sydney instead of traveling around the world for 12 months.

But she hasn’t seen Paris, so why not?

The last of Kyrgios’ five appearances at Roland Garros came in 2017 when he reached the second round. Twice, he made it to the third round, but no further.

And it will almost certainly be his only outing on clay next year.

‘There are too many events on clay, I have said it time and time again. There are players in the top 100 that I don’t even know their faces or their names, and they’ve only played on clay, it’s crazy.

Kyrgios hasn’t played at the French Open since 2017 (above), when Kevin Anderson knocked him out in the second round in five sets.

But Kyrgios will be happy that the Paris event features top players, including the Russian and Belarusian players who were banned from Wimbledon this year.

‘I want [Russian] boys like it [Daniil] medevev, [Andrey] rublev, [Karen] Khachanov, some of our best players, in tournaments,” he said.

‘As a competitor, I want to play in every tournament with the best players, and I think Australia has noticed. Going into the Australian Open, we want Novak (Djokovic) to be there this time, and that’s what we’ve done.

“We’ve said, ‘Look, the sport is better with these players, why not have them there?’

We are tennis players, we are not political people, we are just tennis tournaments trying to entertain the fans.

“Sport brings people together, and I don’t think it should divide people, I think it should have all the best tennis players there, having fun and putting on a show.”