Nick Kyrgios is back, and it’s nothing short of a triumph. The Aussie tennis star secured his first victory in over two years, overcoming Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 at the Miami Open. After battling through multiple surgeries and self-doubt, Kyrgios admitted he was “pretty close to crying on court” following the emotional win.
“I’m not going to lie: I was pretty close to tears,” Kyrgios confessed. “The last two years have been brutal. I was in a cast for 12 weeks, unable to move my wrist. Surgeons even told me I might never play again. Hearing that was devastating.”
The 29-year-old had not won a match since October 2022, when he defeated Kamil Majchrzak in Tokyo. Unfortunately, he had to withdraw from his next match against Taylor Fritz due to injury. From there, it was a downward spiral of surgeries—first on his knee, then on his wrist—that sidelined him for almost all of 2023 and the early part of 2024.
But on Wednesday, wearing a thick wrap of beige tape on his wrist and powered by sheer determination, Kyrgios unleashed 13 aces and recaptured the winning spirit that once made him a Wimbledon finalist.
“I used to win quite a bit, so in some ways this feels normal. But when I think about where I was, unable to even hit a ball, this moment feels surreal,” he said.
His victory also marks a significant mental win. After struggling with the fear of whether he would ever return to form, Kyrgios can now look ahead with cautious optimism. Next up, he faces No. 22 seed Karen Khachanov, a familiar foe and two-time Grand Slam semifinalist. Their rivalry has produced some memorable encounters, including a five-set battle at the 2022 U.S. Open, where Khachanov emerged victorious.
“Karen’s an insane workhorse, incredibly professional. Pretty much the opposite of me,” Kyrgios joked. “But if I make it to the start line, I’ll give him everything I’ve got.”
With his protected ranking allowing him entry into the Miami Open, Kyrgios is determined to make the most of his second chance. For now, he’s savoring the joy of simply stepping back onto the court and competing at the highest level.
“To get a win and feel like I belong again – that’s pretty special,” he said.
Tennis fans, take note. Nick Kyrgios is back, and the story of his comeback is just getting started.
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