Nick Kyrgios is finally back on the ATP Tour, having undergone wrist surgery in Adelaide in September 2023.
Kyrgios will play Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at the Brisbane International, having also suffered from knee injuries in recent times.
The controversial but talented Australian last played on the ATP Tour in the summer of 2023 at the Stuttgart Open.
Kyrgios played at the World Tennis League earlier this month, and now faces Mpetshi Perricard in a very tricky Brisbane International opener.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist is also planning on playing doubles at the tournament alongside Novak Djokovic.
Nick Kyrgios shares update on wrist injury after Brisbane International practice session
Kyrgios lost that Wimbledon final to the Serb, but their rivalry will now turn to a partnership ahead of the Australian Open.
The former has now provided an injury update on his wrist after a practice session ahead of the Brisbane International.
“Yeah, it felt good,” he said in a press conference. “It was definitely a step up returning that serve from the practice court. But it was good to go right in the heat of the pace of the ATP Tour. He’s got one of the biggest serves.
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“To test my wrist out against that… I play Perricard which is arguably the biggest serve on tour. It was good preparation.
“I actually booked Reilly [Opelka] a week ago not knowing the draw at all, and it came out today, so, really good preparation.
“I’m not even thinking about that. I’m thinking about waking up, doing the right things for my wrist, my body, try to get back on the court and stack the days together.”
Nick Kyrgios says if his serve can return to being one of the best on the ATP Tour
Mpetshi Perricard clinched the honour of the ATP Tour’s Most Improved Player in 2024, having won the first two titles of his career.
Helping the 21-year-old to such success was his phenomenal serving, with Kyrgios asked if his own serve can get back to being one of the best on tour.
“Look, I think I’ve seen athletes, not necessarily tennis athletes, but tennis athletes, NBA players, they have horrible surgeries and they have bad injuries and they come back and everyone expects them to be back to the way they were when they were in their prime,” he said.
“I would love to be able to go out there and play the way I played in 2022, compete for Grand Slams. I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not.
“There was another player who was like, you have to be realistic. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability. I always go out there believing I can win. I still feel I can produce a level that’s pretty high.
| Career high rank | Titles | Win-loss | Prize money | |
| Nick Kyrgios | 13 | 7 | 205-114 | $12,486,696 |
| Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard | 30 | 2 | 18-15 | $1,698,874 |
“I think especially against Perricard, I could play like Roger [Federer] and still lose. I could play the worst match of my life and still lose. That’s the type of player he is. He takes the racket out of your hand.
“I think I’m playing pretty good. I think I’m still able to play well. To expect to be the exact same after such a career-ending injury really. Seen tennis players had this injury before, never come back. We’ll see how it goes.”
The Brisbane International round of 32 clash between the Australian and the Frenchman will be their first career meeting.
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