Australian Nick Kyrgios says he wants to “shut up” those who doubt him and win a Grand Slam singles title.
The 29-year-old, a one-time world number 13, has played just one ATP Tour singles match in two years after suffering knee, foot and wrist injuries and has hinted at retirement a number of times.
But he told News Corp’s Code Sports podcast he will return for the World Tennis League event in Abu Dhabi in December, before January’s Australian Open.
“I am coming back because something is keeping me around the game,” he said.
“I have beaten pretty much every person that has been put in front of me, made a final of a Grand Slam, won a doubles title in a Grand Slam, won multiple titles and made money.
“But I think the one thing that is now on my target is a Grand Slam. I think that will be the only thing that will shut people up at the end of the day.
“That’ll be my deep motivation.”
The Australian, who was beaten in the 2022 Wimbledon final by Novak Djokovic, had his temperament frequently questioned after on-court outbursts and meltdowns early in his career, but denied he was “a bad boy”.
“I guess I was branded that just because I was a bit outside the circle of what a normal tennis player is,” he added.
“I don’t think I carry that perception with the Aussie public anymore. But at the start of my career, people thought I was like a murderer.”
With long-time rival Rafael Nadal announcing his retirement last week and Djokovic now 37, Kyrgios – who has been working as a commentator during his absence – believes the game is “the most open it has ever been”.
Last week, Australian Open chief Craig Tiley said he hoped Kyrgios would play at the season-opening Grand Slam, which starts in Melbourne Park on 12 January.
He added that the player would be in the main draw, whether through a protected ranking or a wildcard, as opposed to being forced through qualifying.
“The confidence that we get about Nick playing is in his preparation, we know he’s doing more than he’s done before,” he said.
“We know that he wants to do it. We know that he’s mentally preparing to get ready to play in January. So we fully expect to see him.”
