Nick Kyrgios makes ‘sad’ admission as tennis return lasts 66 minutes

Nick Kyrgios’ tennis comeback is unlikely to have the desired impact with the player admitting his best days are behind him.

The 30-year-old star saw his latest attempt at a blockbuster return come to an abrupt end.

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Kyrgios was swept aside in just 66 minutes by American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of the Brisbane International.

The Australian was beaten 6-3 6-4 on Tuesday in what was his first ATP Tour match since last March.

The match was also just his seventh in the last three years with Kyrgios needing ongoing surgeries on his wrist and knees.

That has seen his ranking slip to No.670 in the world – a far cry from his exploits in 2022 when he finished as runner-up at Wimbledon and reached the last eight of the US Open.

Grand Slam hopes in the balance

His latest defeat now leaves his hopes of a spot in at the Australian Open later this month in the balance however Kyrgios is still hopeful of securing one of the three wildcard spots in Melbourne.

“I feel good and I’ll try and use it as a building block,” Kyrgios said.

“Not just for the Australian Open, but this year, for whatever this year holds, I want to continue to play as much as I can.”

The statistics proved damning for the Australian, having hit just ten winners compared to Kovacevic’s 27 as the match proved to be light work for the American.

“Quick match, but he’s world class … he was lights out,” said Kyrgios.

“He’s locked in, a hell of a player, one to watch for sure.

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“This is a good building block. If I was to string a few (matches) together, who knows where I’ll be in six to 12 months’ time.

“Right now, I’m okay with taking a loss on my chin.”

The Canberra native then revealed that prize money had been a contributing factor as to why he has continued his career before admitting the ‘delusion’ that he was unbeatable just three years ago had now faded.

Not the same player

“I genuinely thought I was the best player in the world,” he said when reflecting on his 2022 exploits.

“After you have those surgeries, I guess they pull you down and you don’t have that belief anymore. It’s sad in a way.

“That’s just the reality. People out there think you go under the knife, come back and you’re the same player.”

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“It’s not how it is,” he added. “That’s just sport; you can’t get too upset and that’s why you’ve got to be grateful for moments like that doubles match the other night.”

Kyrgios has no immediate plans to rest having entered next week’s the Kooyong Classic.

But first, he will continue his doubles commitments in Brisbane with long-time friend Thanasi Kokkinakis following their entertaining victory on Sunday night.

And despite an often frosty relationship, Krygios claims that he has now found peace with the Australian public and media.

“Me and Thanasi gave the crowd more entertainment than they’d had all tournament. So I gave them … the ‘Special K’ experience,” he added.

“The journey I’ve had … hasn’t always been amazing. Now, every time I walk out there it’s always a lot of fun.

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“I’ve felt a lot of love out there. Young kids chanting and enjoying their time.

“I feel as if I’m giving them a good show and one day, if they love tennis, they can be out there in that arena playing.”