by Nick Kyrgios has been labeled “overrated” and a “clown” ahead of his potential return at the Australian Open in January.
The 30-year-old has been involved in numerous conflicts both on and off the field due to his outlandish personality.
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A series of knee and wrist injuries have limited Kyrgios to his presenting role in recent years, but tennis’s “bad boy” is set to return in early 2025.
Kyrgios is ready for another chance at a Grand Slam and sees the Melbourne showpiece as the perfect place to reignite his career.
But not everyone is happy to see him return to the court, with former world number 3 Nikolay Davydenko urging tennis to “forget him”.
“He is generally overrated,” the Russian told BetBoom Tennis. “When it came time to play, he was always injured. In short, let’s forget him.”
Meanwhile, Elana Vesnina was also scathing in her assessment of the Australian, although she did praise his game.
“Clown, I agree,” she said. “But he was incredibly talented and gifted. He had a powerful serve and an excellent forehand. But when it came to winning a major title, it all went up in smoke.”
But the pair’s comments are only likely to strengthen Kyrgios’ desire to return to competitive tennis and prove he still has what it takes to challenge for Grand Slams.
His last taste of a Grand Slam tournament was the Wimbledon final in 2022, when he lost to Novak Djokovic before reaching the quarterfinals of the US Open later that year.
“I’m coming back because something keeps me attached to the game,” Kyrgios told the Code Sports podcast.
“I beat pretty much every opponent that came before me, reached the final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title at a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money.”
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“But I think the only thing that’s my goal now is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day.”
“I just miss being out there and playing in front of the home crowd [wrist] The injury I had was brutal. The surgeon said I probably wouldn’t be able to play again.
“But I said, ‘Whatever, just try to give me two to three more years of my career.’ I just want to be out there lighting up the crowd and playing in front of my own country.”
