Nick Kyrgios will finally return to Grand Slam action at the 2025 Australian Open after vowing to put his ‘brutal’ injury problems behind him. The divisive star has not swung a racket in anger competitively since early 2023, following separate surgeries for knee and wrist problems.

The prolonged absence had led to speculation he would soon retire from the professional game, with the 29-year-old using his lay-off to take up commentary and punditry roles for a host of different networks.

But the Aussie star last week revealed he will make his comeback at the World Tennis League event in Abu Dhabi in December, which he’s now said will kick-start his preparations for his home slam in Melbourne Park in January.

“The injury I had was brutal,” he said, at SXSW Sydney. “The surgeon said I probably wouldn’t be able to play again. But I said whatever, just try and get me another two to three years of my career.

“Everything has gone semi-well and I will be playing the Australian Open this summer. It’s been a brutal couple of years but just being out there to play in front of a home crowd – I just want to be out there, lighting up the crowd and playing in front of my own country.”

His only Slam success to date came in his native country, winning the men’s doubles in 2022 with compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis. That same year, he reached his only major final, losing to Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.

And Kyrgios has now insisted that it’s individual Slam silverware, and not money, that has motivated his comeback. “Whether it is good or bad (Australian Open), it will certainly be a lot of fun, for sure. I’m looking forward to it,” he added.

“My only motivation to come back and play is to try and win a grand slam, and I’ll give it one more shot. I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money.

“But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day. That’ll be my deep motivation.”

Kyrgios has not played in a Slam event since the US Open in September 2022, but will still be one of the star attractions in Abu Dhabi. The exhibition takes place from December 19-22 in the Middle East.

Among those currently signed up with him for the team event are Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz, as well as Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, the top two players on the WTA Tour. The full line-up is yet to be finalised and announced by organisers.