Nick Kyrgios is one of the most controversial figures in tennis history, but seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander lauded the Australian's influence in recent comments.
Kyrgios' scheduled return to tennis in 2025 has led to excitement among many fans. He is a unique character and personality who has undoubtedly attracted additional fans to the sport with his actions.
However, others think Kyrgios is a bad role model due to his outbursts, tanking during some matches, and comments about other players that some believe are unsavory and paint tennis in a negative light.
Kyrgios has only played one tournament in the last two years because of serious wrist and knee injuries. The 29-year-old had to undergo a wrist reconstruction and was told by the surgeon he only had a 15% chance of playing professional tennis again.
He overcame those odds and will return to the ATP Tour at the Brisbane International during the opening week of the new season. Kyrgios also plans to play doubles with Novak Djokovic at the event.
The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up will then compete at the Australian Open. Kyrgios hopes to play against Jannik Sinner in Melbourne. He has repeatedly slammed the world No. 1 since his doping scandal became public.
Sinner twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol at the Indian Wells Open. He was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed the case.
A ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport will be reached sometime in 2025. Reactions to Sinner's case have been mixed, but Kyrgios has been his most vocal critic since the case became public in August.
The Australian has spread theories about how Sinner might have taken the clostebol deliberately, despite the ITIA and WADA accepting it was accidental based on the evidence that it examined from the case.
Kyrgios promises to show Sinner no respect and to turn the crowd on him if they meet at the Australian Open. Some do not like that, but others think it is the type of trash talk modern tennis lacks.
Wilander is among those who admire Kyrgios. Speaking to Eurosport, the three-time French Open winner argued that the 29-year-old will have ticked every box if he wins a singles Grand Slam and has revolutionized the sport.
"I think Nick has revolutionised the sport in many ways. Players are actually using part of his arsenal or his repertoire. Now, here's another statement, if Nick goes out, and he plays his absolute best tennis, and if he wins the Grand Slam, I believe maybe for the first time ever, a single player would have ticked every single box that you can tick."
"He is competitive, the level is high, the mental attitude is brilliant, the repertoire and the variety of crazy shot-making and the jokes he cracks, no one has ever done it all. Nick Kyrgios has a chance to do it all."
Kyrgios and Wilander worked together on Eurosport at last year's Australian Open, and that might have given the Swede a greater appreciation of Kyrgios and what he brings to tennis.
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