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Nick Kyrgios in tough admission after long-awaited tennis return

The Aussie hasn't played a competitive match since October.

riley morgan
Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Nick Kyrgios shakes hands with Yibing Wu and Kyrgios speaks to the media.
Nick Kyrgios (pictured right) lost his tennis return at the Stuttgart Open, which marked his first match in 2023 and has called for patience from his fans. (Images: @TennisTV/Getty Images)

Aussie Nick Kyrgios has finally made his highly-anticipated return tennis in 2023, but the Wimbledon finalist admitted he was a long way from his best after going down at the Stuttgart Open. Kyrgios has been out since last year having succumbed to a knee injury, which left fans in shock as he withdrew from the Australian Open.

And while many thought he would return in time for a rare appearance at Roland Garros, Kyrgios remained sidelined after knee surgery. However, the 28-year-old has been building up his fitness in time for another grass court run having made the final at Wimbledon last year.

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Unfortunately, his long-awaited return didn't go as planned as the Aussie went down in straight sets to Yibing Wu 7-5, 6-3. Wu had never played in a grass court tournament on the main tour, but held his nerves to defeat the Aussie.

Kyrgios appeared to be serving well, but was hampered in his movement from the baseline. He seemed reluctant to chase down points and admitted during a change of ends that his knee was causing him pain.

"I feel my knee every point. I can't walk without pain," Kyrgios said, before dropping his head into his hands in frustration. Following the match, Kyrgios pleaded with fans to give him time as he works his way back to fitness.

"Be patient with me my fans please," Kyrgios tweeted. "It's a process to get back to where I was. I know it's hard for you to see me perform like today, but I need more time and hopefully can get back to where I was."

Yibing was no easy draw for Kyrgios with the World No.64 fighting for every point in the scrap. Tennis fans were quick to rally around Kyrgios after the Australian did his best after more than six months away from a competitive match.

Nick Kyrgios' tough draw in tennis return

Kyrgios began well, showing his trademark flair and serving powerfully. At 5-5 he forced a break point but Yibing saved with an ace. The Australian, who had begun to look uncomfortable midway through the set, seemed to make little effort to regain the advantage as his opponent held.

Serving to stay in the set, Kyrgios aced twice but also double-faulted twice as he was broken. The second set went with serve to 3-4 but Kyrgios, a two-time semi-finalist in Stuttgart, was then broken to love, misjudging the game-winning point which he let go only for it to land inside the baseline.

Nick Kyrgios reacts during a tennis match.
Nick Kyrgios (pictured) lost his Stuttgart Open match upon his tennis return. (Photo by Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Yibing served out to love to complete victory. It was Kyrgios' first tour-level singles match since October - though he made a big-money exhibition appearance in Saudi Arabia in December. Kyrgios will be looking to recapture some of the electric grass court form of 2022, which saw him reach a maiden grand slam final at Wimbledon.

However, his return to the court could suggest it might take Kyrgios some time before he finds his best form, which made him a major threat in 2022.

with AAP

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