Nick Kyrgios’ absence from the tennis circuit has felt robotic: Why his return to the court is something we all need

by Admin
November 19, 2024

When I heard the news that Nick Kyrgios was returning to competitive tennis, my first thought was, “I can’t wait for the Australian Open”.

If we all remember, the former World Number 13 had John Cain Arena buzzing.

It was like that any time he walked onto the court, there was this buzz.

There’s an unpredictable anticipation in everyone’s mind about what Kyrgios will bring to the court.

Will he execute an underarm serve, the Tweener? This is a shot where you hit the ball between your legs, famously popularized by Roger Federer at the US Open long ago.

Will he blow up, throw a racket, or lash out at the crowd, but still play the best tennis shots you’ve ever seen and achieve a famous victory?

Not having Kyrgios on the tennis circuit for the past two years has felt very robotic.

Don’t get me wrong, I love watching fellow Aussies Alex de Minaur, Alexei Popyrin, and Jordan Thompson, to name a few, but will they provide the same entertainment value as Kyrgios?

Kyrgios has not played properly since the 2022 US Open, where I believed he had a strong chance of claiming the title.

Unfortunately, he reached the quarter-finals and lost to Russia’s Karen Khachanov, a workhorse, in five gruelling sets.

A player who in a different era would likely be considered one of the world’s best tennis players if it weren’t for the presence of the big three.

(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

Six weeks earlier, he would be taking on Novak Djokovic in a Wimbledon final, where as a nation, we would watch him take the first set against arguably the greatest player of the modern era.

He would then go on to lose the next three sets, and we return to the question: when will an Aussie man win a Grand Slam?

Since that time, Kyrgios has faced a challenging period marked by serious wrist and knee injuries that nearly ended his career.

Additionally, last year he was involved in a court case where he avoided conviction by pleading guilty to assault, which caused trauma to his ex-girlfriend, Chiara Passari.

Interpret it as you will, but I think it’s wonderful that Kyrgios will be returning to the court.

His first event will be the Brisbane International, a tournament he won back in 2018. He has stated that he is feeling fit and healthy; only time will tell how he performs.

As we all know, returning to any sport takes time, especially at the professional level.

If Kyrgios gains momentum at the Brisbane International and then continues to perform well at the Australian Open, just imagine the excitement it would create among fans.

The crowd would be electrifying, with chants echoing throughout the venue. TV ratings would reach an all-time high, which could rejuvenate both tennis and Melbourne.

The city itself has faced a challenging period, which has been well documented.

There have also been growing questions about the viability of the tournament, with concerns that it could eventually be replaced by a tournament in the Middle East.

With less than two months to go until the Australian Open officially begins, I can’t wait for the return of Kyrgios.