PHOTO SOURCE: ROLEX
By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday 13 January 2025
Nick KyrgiosThe Grand Slam career may soon come to an end. Maybe it already has…
Australia returned to the Australian Open on Monday night in Melbourne but fell in straight sets to Britain’s Jacob Fearnley (7-6(3) 6-3 7-6(2))in a match that saw him struggle physically as he failed to generate the pop and inspiring rhythm he is known for.
The loss left Kyrgios, 16 months removed from wrist surgery that still bothers him, thinking he may have just played his last Australian Open.
“I really can’t see myself for sure playing singles here again,” he said, before focusing on the highlights of a special atmosphere at John Cain Arena. “It was special. If I accepted that, it was great.”
Kyrgios was bothered by an abdominal problem that slowed him down on Monday, but he refused to retire.
“I didn’t want to throw in the towel and quit or retire,” he said. “He was physically injured. I respect my opponent. Fans would wait hours to come and see me play. Yeah, I mean, I can’t really see myself playing a singles match here again.”
That said, Kyrgios plans to keep pushing into 2025 and he thinks he can find his form and fitness eventually.
“When you’re competing for the biggest tournaments in the world and you’re fighting to win sets physically, it’s very difficult,” he said. “But I still have a long year ahead of me. I’m trusting the process that I might still be able to do some interesting things this year at some stage.”
But tonight was clearly not his night.
“I’m happy to play with a bit of worry,” he said. “When it comes down to it — I’m one of the biggest servers on the tour and I’m serving tonight. My average serve speed was under 200 (KPH). I mean, Nick Kyrgios without his serve probably isn’t — I’m not a threat to many players.”
Whatever happens for the rest of Kyrgio’s career, rest assured, he will end it with no regrets.
“No regrets,” he said. “My journey is not over, but I have had a wonderful journey. My career has been amazing. I have no regrets.
“I think everything has been a learning curve for me. I keep trying and having fun, just being real and enjoying the ride. But I think it would be selfish to say I want more, I want more. I have had a lot of success. More than most athletes would have.
“No, I’m not sorry.”
