“It’s good to be back. I’m a little bit, I don’t know if I’d call it nervous,” is what Nick Kyrgios admitted recently. The Australian ATP star was sidelined from competition for 18 months due to a serious knee injury. However, he remained connected to the tennis world through commentary roles at the 2023 ATP Finals, the 2024 Australian Open, and the 2024 US Open. In mid-October, he announced his return to professional tennis. The Australian star recently tempered expectations, offering a realistic perspective on his return to the tour.

Nick Kyrgios’s last competitive appearance in Stuttgart Open back in June 2023 made it clear that he wasn’t physically ready to compete. Following January surgery to address a small tear in his left lateral meniscus, Kyrgios exhibited signs of physical distress throughout the match. He subsequently disclosed to his team that ambulation was causing him considerable discomfort. While he took enough time, 18 months to be precise, to heal from the injuries, the Aussie is realistically looks forward the Brisbane International.

At a December 28th press conference in Brisbane, Kyrgios was asked to reveal where his serve is at. And if it can get back to being best on tour.

Kyrgios realistic answer was: “Look, I think I’ve seen athletes, not necessarily tennis athletes, but tennis athletes, NBA players, they have horrible surgeries and they have bad injuries and they come back and everyone expects them to be back to the way they were when they were in their prime. I would love to be able to go out there and play the way I played in 2022, compete for Grand Slams. I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, You have to be realistic. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability. I always go out there believing I can win. I still feel I can produce a level that’s pretty high.”

Kyrgios also acknowledged the challenges of competing against tough opponents. “I think especially against Perricard, I could play like Roger and still lose. I could play the worst match of my life and still lose. That’s the type of player he is. He takes the racquet out of your hand. I think I’m playing pretty good. I think I’m still able to play well. To expect to be the exact same after such a career-ending injury really. Been tennis players had this injury before, never come back. We’ll see how it goes.”

Nick Kyrgios made his highly anticipated return to the tennis court on December 20th at the World Tennis League in Abu Dhabi. As part of the Kites team alongside Casper Ruud, Simona Halep, and Jasmine Paolini, Kyrgios faced Andrey Rublev in his first match of the exhibition. Unfortunately, he lost to the Russian 6-4 in a winning set format. However, he bounced back to win his doubles match alongside Paolini, defeating the team of Caroline Garcia and Denis Shapovalov 7-5.

His comeback isn’t the only surprise that the fans are expecting to witness as the new season unfolds. The anticipated partnership with old friend Novak Djokovic stands to be yet another hook for the tennis community.

Nick Kyrgios receives a word of honor from upcoming doubles partner Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic expressed excitement about partnering with Nick Kyrgios at the Brisbane International. The 24-time Grand Slam champion said teaming up with Kyrgios would be an enjoyable experience. “It’s going to be fun,” Djokovic said as he arrived in Brisbane to prepare for the Australian Open. “We texted about it and we spoke earlier in Wimbledon (this year) about playing together when he’s back on tour. We’ve got the first chance right away in the first week of the season.” Djokovic plans to use the tournament to fine-tune his game ahead of a bid for his 11th Australian Open title.

The pair, who once had a tense rivalry, have grown closer since their thrilling Wimbledon final in 2022. Despite their past clashes, Kyrgios and Djokovic have built a friendship, which adds a special dynamic to their new partnership. Kyrgios, known for his wit and bold personality, joked about the collaboration, saying, “Everyone thinks that it’s a pleasure playing with him (but) it’s actually a pleasure playing with me … Let’s be real.” He added, “No, look, we wanted to play one time at least before either his career ends or mine finishes.”

Kyrgios highlighted the importance of their team up for tennis fans, highlighting the entertainment value of their pairing. “Whenever you have a team like this it’s important that the fans get that. Because that’s what tennis is about, having two great personalities and trying to have some fun out there,” he said. Kyrgios has played only one single match in two years due to multiple injuries, making this partnership a significant moment in his return.

The Brisbane International runs from December 31 to January 5, providing an exciting start to the tennis season before the Australian Open begins on January 12.