Nick Kyrgios knows he is not the player he once was as he prepares for his ATP Tour return at the Brisbane International.
Kyrgios returned from injury at the World Tennis League, with the Australian impressing at the mixed-gender exhibition event.
The former world number 13 now turns his focus to the Brisbane International, with Kyrgios playing doubles with Novak Djokovic.
Kyrgios also plays singles at the warm-up tournament for the 2025 Australian Open, where he faces a very tricky draw against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
He takes on the Frenchman in the round of 32 in Brisbane, with Kyrgios and Djokovic meeting Alexander Erler and Andreas Mies.
Nick Kyrgios names three ATP Tour ‘freaks of nature’
The Australian has now been dealing with reporters ahead of his return, having been asked in his Brisbane International press conference if the limits with his wrist have been tough for his bravado on the court.
“I think the media is to blame for me playing with such bravado,” he said. “I’ve just played the same way since I was a junior and how I am now. I’ve played the same way.
“I guess they kind of created, like, every time he steps out on the court, something could go. Where I’ve played years and years of tennis in my life, I’ve played normal matches.
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“I don’t think it’s been humbling. I actually think I’m probably one of the most humble tennis players. I’ve never taken myself too seriously. I know at the end of the day I’m just hitting a ball over the net to be honest.
“I guess it’s just made me understand that, yeah, I’m not young anymore for sure. On the tour they got those young guys, like [Holger] Rune, [Jannik] Sinner, [Carlos] Alcaraz.
“These guys are freaks of nature. I know I’m not in that position anymore. I’m just enjoying the ride. This is definitely the latter stages my career. Just trying to enjoy it all.”
Nick Kyrgios’s head-to-head record vs Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune
While Rune has impressed in his brief career so far, it is Sinner and Alcaraz who have taken the ATP by storm.
The Italian, ranked first in the world, won the Australian Open and US Open in 2024, with world number three Alcaraz winning the French Open and Wimbledon.
READ MORE: Nick Kyrgios now confirms the reason why he did not interview Jannik Sinner on court at the US Open
Rune meanwhile is a four-time winner on the ATP Tour, but the former world number four has fallen to 13th in the rankings.
At 21, he is the same age as Alcaraz, with 23-year-old Sinner helping form the next generation of men’s tennis.
Given his injury issues in recent times, 29-year-old Kyrgios has yet to take on Alcaraz and Rune, while he has lost his only meeting with Sinner to date.
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