Nick Kyrgios breaks silence on Aus Open fate as wildcard decision made | Tennis | Sport
Nick Kyrgios is back in action at this week’s Brisbane International – his first official tournament since March. The former world No. 13 has spent the last three years battling knee and wrist injuries, and made a comeback in Brisbane 12 months ago, but played just four main draw singles events before taking another break.
It’s an important week for Kyrgios, as his Australian Open participation also remains up in the air. Now ranked down at No. 671 after his latest hiatus, the Aussie will need a wildcard if he wants to compete in his home Grand Slam tournament. There are only three more wildcards up for grabs in the men’s singles draw – but Kyrgios isn’t viewing the Brisbane International as his audition to make it to Melbourne.
“I could have a phone call and be, like, look, I feel 100 per cent, I feel as if I’m going to make a final of a Grand Slam that no other player in the Australia has done in the last 19 years, I could butter it up and take it, but I want to prove to myself first. Like, I don’t really to need to play for money or anything,” the 2022 Wimbledon finalist said.
“I’m playing this event because I want to go out there and compete. I feel as if I can still play, and I want to prove to myself after the injuries I have had that I can play at this level and still be successful.”
Kyrgios, who got off to a winning start in the doubles event in Brisbane alongside Thanasi Kokkinakis, also doesn’t want to take a wildcard away from a more deserving player, and would give one up if that were the case.
He continued: “I did a couple interviews before, I don’t want to be that player that takes opportunities away from young people that have been really working towards this moment of having a wildcard. As I said, couple of the boys before, [John] Millman gave his wildcard up for me at the French Open [in 2013] when he was injured and he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent, and that’s where everything kicked off for me, my whole career.
“Basically, after that moment, I became a different player mentality-wise, and physicality I learned so much. I knew physically I was so far behind the 8 Ball. I knew mentally I believed I could win, but I had so much work to do.
“If I’m feeling great and I get through this week and I feel I can perform at the Australian Open and really enjoy it and give the people – they are paying good money to be there. If I’m not able to give them the Kyrgios experience, then I would genuinely rather give it to someone that earned the wildcard and really is in tip-top shape to start off something special in their career.”
The Brisbane International is still Kyrgios’ priority for now, but the 30-year-old would be willing to go through qualifying to make it to the main draw of the Australian Open, should that be the only opportunity he receives.
“I guess potentially, yeah. I mean, as I said, like this, my short-term goal is to get through my doubles with one of my mates that I grew up with, and he’s had success here, won doubles here. I have won this tournament. Hence that’s why we got a wildcard,” he explained.
“Yeah, I’m just going to get through this week first. And whatever AO brings, AO brings. That’s two weeks away. I don’t know what could happen between now and then. As an athlete, like yourself, obviously you know so many things can change. Yeah, I’ll just take it day by day.”
