The message from Novak Djokovic that inspired Nick Kyrgios’s return to tennis: "A big drive for me"

Nick Kyrgios detailed the importance of Novak Djokovic and his motivational message during his return to tennis. The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up has barely played a match in the last two years, back in June 2023, and although there was much speculation about a potential retirement, he will finally make his return to the Tour at the Brisbane International.

The former world No. 13 underwent surgeries on his knee and wrist over the past two years, which kept him away from the courts. Kyrgios has stayed busy with various projects, such as investments, being a commentator for some tournament broadcasts, and his new podcast, among others, fueling rumors about retirement at just 28 years old.

He recently shared details about the procedure he underwent: “It was a wrist reconstruction, so there were four holes drilled in my hand, and there’s a piece of string kind of holding my wrist together and my fingers looked like sausages when I got out of the surgery.

“I was in a cast for about 12 weeks, no movement, and I basically just had to relearn how to use my right wrist again, even just carrying grocery bags, anything was super painful,” he said. “But then I started getting some real improvement at the nine-month mark... to a point where I feel like I’m playing how I was in 2022.”

While Wimbledon was unfolding this year, Kyrgios, as a BBC commentator, was present throughout the tournament. At that time, Djokovic was rushing his recovery after a surgery three weeks prior due to being forced to withdraw from Roland Garros. The Serbian made a near-miraculous recovery, undergoing surgery on June 7, and by July 2, he was already playing his first-round match at the All England Club.

Djokovic waited until the last moment to confirm his participation, and in the days leading up to the tournament, Kyrgios offered to hit with Nole during one of his training sessions, which was arranged a couple of days later. “I was hitting with Novak and he said to me, ‘It doesn’t look like you’ve had surgery,’” Kyrgios revealed. “And that was a big motivation to say like maybe I’m actually making some inroads and some progress into getting back because I didn’t really know.”

“That was a big drive for me... so, if he didn’t say that, I don’t know if I would have been motivated and if I would have kept pushing on the thought, but that was definitely a big part of the journey when he said that to me.”

The former doubles Australian Open champion announced that his 2025 season will start in his hometown at the Brisbane International, which begins on December 29. A couple of days later, he will be at the Australian Open, where he is likely to receive a wild card as one of the most prominent local stars of the last decade, a doubles champion at the AO, and a Wimbledon finalist.