Nick Kyrgios has voiced his concerns about the current state of tennis, describing it as “bland” in light of the fading dominance of the sport’s Big Three. With Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal officially retired and Novak Djokovic nearing the end of his career, Kyrgios believes the game is at a pivotal moment.
Federer, who underwent three knee surgeries and returned briefly for a final doubles match at the 2022 Laver Cup alongside Nadal, has stepped away from the sport permanently. This week, Nadal, 38, concluded his professional career at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where Spain’s campaign ended prematurely after a defeat to the Netherlands.
In contrast, Djokovic remains active and has confirmed his intention to return in 2025, despite not winning a Grand Slam this season for the first time since 2017. The rise of younger players like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who shared Grand Slam titles this year, has led some to speculate that Djokovic may no longer be the player to beat.
Kyrgios, who has played only one tournament in the past two seasons due to injuries, shared his perspective on the evolving tennis landscape during a recent appearance on Nova 100’s Jase and Lauren radio show. “I think it’s a very interesting time at the moment in the tennis world,” he remarked. “Djokovic is at the tail end of his career. Nadal has officially retired. Federer is gone. There are still amazing players out there, but I think the game’s a bit bland at the moment.”
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist also expressed his frustration with the camaraderie among players on the ATP Tour, stating, “Everyone’s liking each other, and everyone’s friends with each other. And I just, I hate that, to be honest. Everyone’s everyone’s best mate.”
Looking ahead to his own return, Kyrgios is set to compete at the Brisbane International in the first week of the 2025 season. He anticipates mixed reactions from fellow players: “I don’t think there will be too many happy faces seeing me back on the tour. I had a lot of friends and also a lot of people that didn’t get along with me, which I think is completely normal in sport.”
Kyrgios’ path back to competitive tennis has been fraught with challenges. After suffering a knee injury in early 2022, he underwent surgery in January 2023, followed by another wrist operation later that year. Despite fears that he might not return to form, Kyrgios has credited his recovery to skilled medical intervention. “Honestly, this is probably the best I’ve felt in two years,” he said. “I had that wrist reconstruction, and now I’m feeling amazing. It was a 15% miracle chance that I would get back to playing at this level, and here we are.”
As he prepares for his comeback, Kyrgios is eager to play in front of home fans and is looking forward to re-entering the competitive arena. “I am feeling fit and healthy, and I am excited for my return to tennis following some time out of the sport,” he added in an interview with Nine News.
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