Nick Kyrgios has been forced to confront a sobering truth about his tennis career after his latest singles comeback on the ATP Tour ended in a swift first-round defeat at the Brisbane International.
A Swift Exit on Pat Rafter Arena
The mercurial Australian, once ranked world No.13, was outplayed by a sharp American opponent, Aleksandar Kovacevic, in a match that lasted a mere 66 minutes. The scoreline read 6-3, 6-4 in favour of the world No.58, marking a challenging return to competitive singles for Kyrgios.
This match was Kyrgios' first on the Tour since March last year and only his seventh in three long years. A series of surgeries on his wrist and knees have severely disrupted his career, causing his ranking to plummet to a staggering 670 in the world.
The contrast to his 2022 season is stark. That year, Kyrgios reached the final of Wimbledon and the quarter-finals of the US Open, before his body began to fail him. His activity since has been minimal, with just five appearances in the entirety of 2023.
Facing a New Reality with Hope
Despite the loss in front of a packed Pat Rafter Arena crowd, Kyrgios remained both upbeat and realistic about his future. He is still in contention for one of the final three wildcards into this month's Australian Open.
"I feel good and I'll try and use it as a building block," Kyrgios said post-match. "Not just for AO, but this year, for whatever this year holds, I want to continue to play as much as I can."
The statistics highlighted the gap in match sharpness. Kyrgios managed just 10 winners compared to Kovacevic's 27, with a handful of loose points costing him a break of serve in each set. He was full of praise for his conqueror, calling him "world class" and "lights out."
The End of an 'Unbeatable' Delusion
In a candid moment of reflection, Kyrgios revealed how his perception of himself has shifted since his peak. He admitted the "delusion" that he was unbeatable during his 2022 campaign has now faded, replaced by the hard truths of recovery.
"There was a point in my life in 2022... when there was the delusion I generally thought I was the best player in the world," he confessed. "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."
He also openly acknowledged that prizemoney remains a factor in his decision to continue playing, stating he had "no shame" in admitting it.
Kyrgios will stay in Brisbane to play doubles with his close friend Thanasi Kokkinakis, recalling the "Special K" experience they provided fans in a thrilling win earlier in the week. He expressed gratitude for the support from Australian crowds, feeling he has turned a corner in his relationship with the public and media.
"I've felt a lot of love out there," he said. "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."
For now, Kyrgios views the loss as a necessary step. "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," he mused. "Right now, I'm OK with taking a loss on my chin."
