Officials are optimistic Nick Kyrgios will emerge from relative obscurity and make a shock comeback at this month’s French Open.
The nation’s most enigmatic athlete hasn’t performed a tour match for the reason that Japan Open seven months in the past, subsequently present process knee surgical procedure after being compelled out of January’s Australian Open.
Kyrgios has given Roland Garros a large berth for the previous six years.
His final match throughout a European clay-court swing led to an notorious default after throwing a chair on the courtroom in a traditional Kyrgios tantrum whereas taking part in Casper Ruud on the 2019 Rome Masters.
The hot-head has dismissed Roland Garros as being the worst grand slam of all, saying the event “sucked” and must be kicked off the calendar.
Yet the discuss suggests Kyrgios is on monitor for a shock return on the season’s second main, which begins in Paris on May 28.
“I think he will play Roland Garros,” a senior tennis official informed AAP.
With his administration remaining tight-lipped, followers must see it to consider it.
Kyrgios stays on the French Open entry listing and, with a present rating of No.26 on this planet, can be seeded and assured to not play a higher-ranked rival till a minimum of the final 32.
As effectively as providing priceless match apply forward of the grass-court season, the 2022 Wimbledon runner-up would even be assured to financial institution a minimal 62,000 euros ($A101,000) even with a first-round exit.
And returning to Paris was definitely in Kyrgios’ plans earlier than he was injured, with love seemingly conquering his dislike for the red-dirt grind.
“Yes, I’m playing the French Open. My girlfriend (Costeen Hatzi) wants to see Paris, so why not?” Kyrgios informed reporters in Riyadh on the Diriyah Tennis Cup exhibition occasion in Saudi Arabia in December.
“Pick up some more money (in Paris) … I’ve played well on clay, I’ve beaten (Roger) Federer, (Stan) Wawrinka, I’ve played a final on clay (in Estoril in 2015).
“But often at the moment of 12 months I like spending time at residence.
“Because if I don’t, then I’m travelling for eight months a year. It’s too much.
“But she likes Paris so why not?”
Kyrgios has certainly been training, not only on court but also in the gym, and is said to be in decent physical shape.
Unlike most, the 28-year-old has also proven – on several occasions – he can compete at the slams with little match preparation.
He made the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2015 without playing for four months, the third round at Melbourne Park in 2021 after sitting out most of the previous season during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has reached the second week of other majors following lengthy lay-offs.
He recently took to social media to say “I am unable to wait” to play an exhibition match against Danish sensation Holger Rune in Copenhagen on May 24 – four days before the French Open starts.
Kyrgios also said last month he was “pumped” to be returning for the Laver Cup in Vancouver in September and retweeted a post of him being front and centre of a promotion for an Ultimate Tennis Showdown in LA a week after the Wimbledon final in July.
So he does appear to have intentions of returning to the court.
But precisely when, followers must wait and see.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
