Nick
Kyrgios is preparing for his return to the tour in 2024, with the Brisbane
International as his first challenge and a few weeks later, his comeback at the Australian Open. The 2022 Wimbledon runner-up will make his much-anticipated
return after playing just one match in the past two seasons.
Throughout
his career, the Australian has been plagued by injuries, reaching a breaking
point in 2023, when he had to undergo surgery on his knee and wrist, resulting
in a long absence from competition and even rumors about a potential
retirement.
Kyrgios chooses $10 Million over Grand Slam victory
The
29-year-old won the Australian Open men’s doubles title alongside Thanasi
Kokkinakis in 2022, and they will team up again in Melbourne in search of
repeating their title for the locals. That same year, Kyrgios had a surprising
run at Wimbledon, where he finished as the runner-up after losing to Novak
Djokovic in the final 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-7.
Kyrgios
recently responded in an interview on the “Nothing Major” podcast, hosted by
former American tennis players John Isner, Jack Sock, Steve Johnson, and Sam
Querrey. The Australian was asked if he would prefer to be given $20 million or
win his first Grand Slam title. “$20 million, are you serious?” he asked.
Then,
former world No. 11 Querrey lowered the bet. “$10 million?” he asked. At that
point, Kyrgios replied, “$10 million, right now.” “I’m just saying a Slam is
not that important. I guess we found out that tennis is still very
business-like, it’s sort of a business thing to me.”
Kyrgios’
comments come shortly after Alexander Bublik mentioned that he would reject $15
million, as he would prefer to go down in history as a Grand Slam champion
rather than earning money. “$15 million you can make, this is the money you can
make if you are a tennis player,” he said.
“The joy of
winning a slam would stay there, and history would stay there. Nobody will
remember you as the guy who chose $15 million.”