In 2023, tennis fans have seen little of Nick Kyrgios, who was plagued by knee and wrist injuries following his remarkable performance at Wimbledon last year, where he reached his first Grand Slam final. In the current season, injuries forced him to withdraw from all the Grand Slams.
However, late in 2023, Nick Kyrgios is making a comeback to the tennis scene, albeit not on the court but off the court. The tennis community will see him in a new role as a commentator and analyst for the Tennis Channel during the ATP Finals in Turin later this month. The Tennis Channel announced this recently, which surprised many tennis followers.
A sports journalist shared the news on social media along with the statement from the Tennis channel. The Tennis Channel’s press release described Kyrgios as someone whose electrifying style of play and straightforward communication have won him millions of fans worldwide.
“Nick Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios), whose electric style of play and straight-to-the-point conversational approach have endeared him to millions of fans around the world, is joining Tennis Channel as an analyst during its coverage of the ATP Finals November 12-19.”
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) November 7, 2023
It said, “Nick Kyrgios whose electric style of play and straight-to-the-point conversational approach have endeared him to millions of fans around the world, is joining Tennis Channel as an analyst during its coverage of the ATP Finals November 12-19.”
Despite this praise, the announcement didn’t sit well with many tennis enthusiasts. One fan questioned what he would be analyzing, another deemed it an unfavorable decision, and a third made a rather pointed comment to the account, stating, “You all really like hiring trash.”
What is he analysing? Pokemon characters?
— TheTennisTalker (@TheTennisTalker) November 8, 2023
Not a good move Tennis Channel. https://t.co/j8hpFzftjn
— LavanyaSingerDinesh🌺 (@LavanyaVocalNEW) November 7, 2023
Y’all really like hiring trash🤦🏾♀️
— Corporate Girl Loves Tennis (@Princess0937) November 7, 2023
Nick Kyrgios’s inclusion in the Tennis Channel’s coverage for the ATP Finals marks his first such collaboration, taking place during one of the most exclusive events in men’s tennis, featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams based on their 2023 season performances. It will be interesting to watch and hear Nick Kyrgios, known for his outspoken and controversial personality.
Nick Kyrgios’ Australian Open 2024 prospects
The big question of Nick Kyrgios’ participation in the Australian Open 2024 still hangs in the balance. He hasn’t played a tour match since a disappointing loss to Yibing Wu at the Stuttgart Open in June 2023, primarily due to nagging wrist and knee injuries. His last Grand Slam appearance takes us back to his quarterfinal defeat at the 2022 US Open.
This year, he pulled out of the Australian Open on the eve of his first-round match against Russian Roman Safiullin. As the AO 2024 draws nearer, with just a little over two months to go, the pressure will be on Kyrgios to showcase both his physical preparedness and his commitment to his home Grand Slam. There were even rumors that he might quit tennis. Despite the uncertainty, AO tournament chief Craig Tiley maintains an optimistic outlook regarding Kyrgios’s return.
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Tiley had said, “I personally believe in the communication that he’s motivated to come back and play in January. He loves playing here, in front of his crowd. He knows everyone wants him to play. The one great thing about Nick is he’s very transparent and open about what he’s feeling and what he thinks.”
As for the possibility of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis teaming up for doubles, it appears unlikely, with Kyrgios expected to focus on singles as he recovers from injury. In 2022, the duo, known as the ‘Special Ks,’ made history as the first wildcard pair in the open era to claim the Australian Open men’s doubles title.