Nick Kyrgios only played a handful of matches on the ATP Tour in 2025…
Spending the majority of the year sidelined with injury, Kyrgios is now beginning to ramp up preparations ahead of a return to tennis in 2026.
The Aussie will first compete in a blockbuster exhibition match in Dubai against the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka.
What will the impact on women’s tennis be if Nick Kyrgios wins easily?
Their ‘Battle of the Sexes clash’ has already garnered mass media attention and will certainly be worth a watch.
But Kyrgios isn’t done making headlines… He is also looking to switch sports next year.
Nick Kyrgios agrees to play pickleball with Jack Sock
Three-time Grand Slam doubles champion Jack Sock retired from tennis in 2023 to play pickleball.
He has been successful in his new venture and is currently ranked seventh in singles, improving upon his tennis career-high.
Jack Sock’s current pickleball ranking
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Federico Staksrud | Argentina | 13,300 |
| 2 | Hunter Johnson | USA | 12,800 |
| 3 | Christian Alshon | USA | 9,950 |
| 4 | Connor Garnett | USA | 9,600 |
| 5 | Jaume Martinez Vich | Spain | 6,700 |
| 6 | Christopher Haworth | USA | 5,600 |
| 7 | Jack Sock | USA | 4,950 |
| 8 | Roscoe Bellamy | USA | 4,650 |
| 9 | Ben Johns | USA | 4,187.5 |
| 10 | Gabriel Joseph | USA | 4,025 |
Jack Sock’s ATP career-high ranking (Year-end 2017)
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Rafael Nadal | Spain | 10,645 |
| 2 | Roger Federer | Switzerland | 9,605 |
| 3 | Grigor Dimitrov | Bulgaria | 5,150 |
| 4 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 4,610 |
| 5 | Dominic Thiem | Austria | 4,015 |
| 6 | Marin Cilic | Croatia | 3,805 |
| 7 | David Goffin | Belgium | 3,775 |
| 8 | Jack Sock | USA | 3,165 |
| 9 | Stan Wawrinka | Switzerland | 3,150 |
| 10 | Pablo Carreno Busta | Spain | 2,615 |
Earlier this week, Sock was asked on X whether he would play pickleball with Kyrgios in the future.
“It’ll happen,” he replied.
Adding fuel to the fire, Kyrgios shared his thoughts on his Instagram story.
“It’s gonna happen,” said Kyrgios.
The pair seem to be on the same page, as they look to partner up in pickleball next year.
But have Kyrgios and Sock ever played together during their tennis careers?
Nick Kyrgios and Jack Sock won two doubles titles together
Joining forces at the 2018 Lyon Open, Sock and Kyrgios showed their class on the French clay.
Jack Sock and Nick Kyrgios at the 2018 Lyon Open
- 2018 Lyon Open 1R – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Federico Delbonis/Joao Sousa
- 2018 Lyon Open QF – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Guillermo Duran/Andres Molteni
- 2018 Lyon Open SF – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Guillermo Garcia Lopez/Divij Sharan
- 2018 Lyon Open F – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Roman Jebavy/Matwe Middelkoop
They won another title four years later at the Washington Open in DC.
Jack Sock and Nick Kyrgios at the 2022 Washington Open
- 2022 Washington Open 1R – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Marcelo Arevalo/Jean-Julien Roger
- 2022 Washington Open QF – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Nicolas Mahut/Edouard Roger-Vasselin
- 2022 Washington Open SF – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Alex de Minaur/Frances Tiafoe
- 2022 Washington Open F – Jack Sock/Nick Kyrgios defeated Ivan Dodig/Austin Krajicek
Whether they could replicate that success and win a third title together… In another sport, remains to be seen.
Kyrgios would bring plenty of eyes to pickleball, but you can’t help but think he still has more to give to tennis.
The Aussie is one of the most talented players of his generation, and enjoyed the best year of his career the last time he was fully fit.
Reaching his maiden Grand Slam final at Wimbledon and the quarterfinals of the US Open, Kyrgios was a force to be reckoned with in 2022.
Do you think Nick Kyrgios wasted his talent?
Unfortunately for Kyrgios, since reaching the US Open quarterfinals, he’s only won three ATP singles matches.
If he can’t remedy that in the new year, then perhaps a switch to pickleball may be the way to go after all.
Kyrgios will first focus on his ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match with Sabalenka, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 28, in Dubai.
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