Mark Philippoussis advised
Nick Kyrgios on his return to tennis, telling him he must "put in the
effort" and play lower-level tournaments with fewer spectators if he wants
to get back to the top level.
The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up
has been away from top-level tournaments for nearly two years. He only made one
appearance in the 2023 season and has spent his time in new roles away from the
court, including being part of the BBC's expert team at SW19, a task he has
done previously as well.
Kyrgios must face Challenger Circuit to regain top form
However, Kyrgios has not
ruled out a return to tennis. The 29-year-old Australian has undergone knee and
wrist surgeries and hopes to return to tennis despite the long time away and
his new projects. Philippoussis advised Kyrgios: “It's very hard. It's incredibly
hard physically and emotionally because you got to have that mindset of putting
in the work for rehab.”
“You’ve got to work twice as
hard to get back from an injury and let's look at the difference,” the Aussie
former tennis player added. “I heard Djokovic was doing eight to 12 hours of
rehab a day - not one or two. We're talking about the difference with the
mentality and the approach and the professionalism and everything that goes
along with being one of the greatest of all time in any sport.”
“And that comes down to
discipline, and that's the thing with Nick, it's going to be tougher for him to
get back because now, not only does he need to get back from his injury,” he
continued.
“I thought it was always going to be once he got that first proper
injury where things would require this, how's he going to respond? Because
discipline comes into effect, daily habits. And now it's about receiving
wildcards where he can, but you have to take advantage of that because his
ranking's dropped.”
The 2-time Grand Slam
finalist opined that Kyrgios needs to play lower-level tournaments: “Does he
have it in his heart to play some Challengers, to grind and play some
Challengers? That's a different mentality, to have that discipline to go out
where there's 200 people watching in a little town somewhere for a Challenger.”
“It's a different mentality.
It's about having a vision of knowing that I've got to do this to get back to
where I was. So only time will tell. I'm sure he'll get his wildcards but he
needs to take advantage of that,” he added.
“And when you do come back from
injury, it's getting your confidence, it's finding your game, it's not going to
just click no matter how big your weapons are. It's getting your confidence
back, playing those important points, those big points, having the confidence
to go for that second serve - and that's going to take time. So we'll see.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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