The mercurial Nick Kyrgios crashed out of the Brisbane International on Tuesday afternoon on his return to singles action, going down 7-6 6-7 7-6 to rising French star Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
Kyrgios had played doubles with former foe Novak Djokovic on Monday, giving the fans in Brisbane a unique experience as both 2022 Wimbledon finalists continue their preparation for 2025’s first grand slam that gets underway in Melbourne Park in less than two weeks’ time.
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But the controversial 29-year-old revealed his comeback from a long-term wrist injury didn’t go as smoothly as hoped.
“For me, honestly, it was a great match, considering I hadn’t played in 18 months,” Kyrgios said.
“And to put myself in a winning position was exciting.
“Not one tennis player has ever had this surgery and come back and tried to play again. It’s all really experimental — I don’t really have any protocol of how it’s going to be or how it’s going to pull up.
“So me and my physio, we are taking it as it comes. If we can get through a match, we get through a match.
“How it pulls up tomorrow, I have no idea. It’s throbbing like (expletive) right now.”
Doubt has been cast on the temperamental star’s chances of playing his first grand slam since the 2022 US Open.
“I think I was really excited for the Aus Open, but after today, if I’m able to play, I’m able to play,” he said.
“I think I almost need a miracle, and I need, like, the stars to align for my wrist to hold up in a Grand Slam for sure. Today, if this was a Grand Slam, we may still be out on court, and I don’t know how I’d pull up the next day or the day after,” he said.
“Yeah, that’s kind of the reality setting in.”