Kyrgios makes long-awaited comeback

Grand Slam fans have been starved of showman Nick Kyrgios for over two years, but will lap up every minute when the tennis maverick returns to his home major at Melbourne Park next week.

Using a protected ranking, Kyrgios will be looking to make a racket at the Australian Open for the first time since he pulled out on the eve of his first-round match in 2023.

After a horror run of knee, foot and wrist injuries that limited him to one singles tour match in two years, the 29-year-old returned to competition at the Brisbane International last week.

He played only one match and lost in three sets to Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, afterwards saying he would need "almost a miracle" for his wrist to hold up for the Australian Open.

His long-time friend and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis is one of many Australians hopeful that Kyrgios can do damage in Melbourne if he stays healthy.

"He's a different cat," he said.

"Obviously, has a different sort of energy about him, and he's a hell of a player, so I think people are going to love having him back."

That much, at least, is assured for arguably the most explosive and unpredictable player in the modern game.

Kyrgios never fails to pack in the fans and the crowd fervor can be off-putting for opponents, particularly at the home hero's favorite court.

"Everyone was telling me: 'Oh, you'll really enjoy it, it's going to be amazing'," said Briton Liam Broady, who was heckled relentlessly in a defeat to Kyrgios at John Cain Arena in 2022. "But I thought it was absolutely awful."

Even Kyrgios' doubles matches heave with fans. Crowds stretched to their COVID-restricted limits watched his unlikely run to the 2022 doubles title with Kokkinakis.

They will hope Kyrgios can have a similar run in the singles this year, even if his injury history makes it a shaky prospect.

Winning best-of-five-set matches is no laughing matter when coming off such a long injury layoff.

Kyrgios could barely hold a racket in 2023 due to a ruptured ligament in his wrist.

After a full, surgical reconstruction, he did not return to hitting balls until mid-2024.

The injury woes and long rehab have arguably been the biggest tests of Kyrgios' career, coming too soon after his exciting 2022 season, when he reached the Wimbledon final and the US Open quarters.

He has hardly disappeared from view, keeping a high profile with commentary gigs and podcasts, while posting hot-takes on social media about doping in tennis.

But, there is genuine excitement that Kyrgios is back on the court and building toward what he, and fans, hope will be a proper tilt at major silverware.

"It's been a brutal last couple of years, but I just want to be out there, lighting up the crowd and playing in front of my own country," Kyrgios said in October when confirming his return to Melbourne Park.

"Whether it is good or bad, it will certainly be a lot of fun. My only motivation to come back and play is to try and win a Grand Slam, and I'll give it one more shot."

Reuters