Nick Kyrgios has had an impressive number of physical issues in the last three years and has seemed several times one step away from retirement. The former world number 13 – who had reached the peak of his career in 2022 by reaching the final at the Wimbledon Championships (lost to a legend of the caliber of Novak Djokovic) – seemed ready to be a protagonist in the second part of his career, but the pain in his wrist and knee limited him to the point of thinking about giving up.
The Australian ace has played only four official tournaments in 2025, obtaining just one win and four losses. Recently, the talent from Canberra – who will face Aryna Sabalenka in an exhibition match scheduled in Dubai later this month – said that his knee is much better and that 2026 could be the right year to see him back in action at the highest level.
Kyrgios feels better
Although he is often a divisive and controversial character, no one can doubt the talent of a player like Nick and the general feeling is that the tour needs a star unlike any other. Despite the residual number of on-court appearances in recent years, the former Wimbledon finalist continues to be one of the world's most popular players thanks to his innate charisma.
During the latest edition of the 'Nothing Major' podcast, former ATP ace Sam Querrey discussed Nick's popularity: “I feel like, you know, he just kind of looks for fights. He thinks he’s all, you know, he kind of plays the victim card all the time for no reason. But that’s his shtick, you know, that’s why he’s so popular. If you ask around the world, an average sports fan who do you want to watch play tennis, they’re like, Sinner, Alcaraz, Novak, Federer, Nadal, Kyrgios.
He makes that list because Nick just stirs around controversy and has all these… not crazy takes but just outbursts, and that’s what makes him popular, so for me, it’s Kyrgios vs the world.”
