Nick Kyrgios
On his day, Nick Kyrgios is one of the best tennis players in the world. His career peaked in 2022 when he reached the Wimbledon final – narrowly losing out to Novak Djokovic – but things have not quite gone to plan since. So, what’s next for Nick Kyrgios?
Those looking to place tennis bets on the first Grand Slam of 2024 will notice the absence of Kyrgios – the 28-year-old has already been forced to withdraw due to injury. He likely would have featured somewhere among the top 15 favorites, a pack led by Djokovic, who is currently priced at -110.
This withdrawal marks the fifth consecutive Grand Slam Kyrgios has missed after failing to compete at a single major tournament in 2023. The Aussie was not backed by many in the tennis tips ahead of Wimbledon 2022, but he shocked the world by getting to the final and even took the first set against Djokovic.
However, he has been incredibly unfortunate since. Following a quarter-final exit at the 2022 US Open, Kyrgios has undergone three surgeries, meaning he only stepped foot on the court for one ATP Tour match in 2023. Now that his inability to compete in Melbourne has been confirmed, it remains to be seen when we will next see Kyrgios on the court.
In a brutally honest interview, Kyrgios revealed that he is thinking about calling time on his career. Kyrgios said: “If it was up to me, I don’t really want to play any more to be honest. I have to. I’ve got so much more to give but, for me, I don’t feel like playing anymore.”
It comes as somewhat of a shock for tennis fans. Kyrgios is just 28 and seemingly has plenty more to offer. In fact, he looked to be finding his rhythm in 2022, with the 6-4 first-set victory against Djokovic in the Wimbledon final a prime example of Kyrgios at his powerful best.
The Australian-born entertainer will no doubt be sorely missed by the home crowd. Despite never going beyond the quarter-finals at the Australian Open, he does have a doubles title to his name. Partnered by Thanasi Kokkinakis, Kyrgios lifted the trophy in 2022 after beating Australian duo Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden in the final.
To date, Kyrgios has a 205-114 record and a 64.3% win ratio. He reached a career-high ranking of 13 in 2016, despite not getting past a Grand Slam fourth round that year.
He is yet to claim a Grand Slam singles title. The Wimbledon final defeat in 2022 was the closest the Aussie got, and he has also reached three quarter-finals, the most recent being at the US Open in 2022.
The 2022 doubles victory at the Australian Open was somewhat of an anomaly. That remains the only time he has advanced past the third round in a major doubles tournament.
Despite claiming his only silverware on home turf in Melbourne, Kyrgios has played his best tennis in SW19. His 20-8 (71% win ratio) record at Wimbledon is by far superior to his 65% win percentage at the Australian Open.
While you’re never quite sure what you’ll get when Kyrgios steps on the court, one thing cannot be questioned: he possesses the talent of a top 10 player in the world. If he can shake off any lingering injuries, we could see Kyrgios back to his best toward the back end of 2023.