Nick Kyrgios set to make his return to tennis next month

The 2022 Wimbledon singles finalist made a high-profile return to the ATP Tour at the start of January, but his plans to compete at the Australian Open were seriously hampered by an ongoing injury issue.

Kyrgios suggested after he lost to Britain's Jacob Fearnley in Melbourne that he may not be able to play as much as he was hoping in 2025.

"It was definitely not my best performance, but full credit to my opponent," said Kyrgios after his defeat.

"He played really well tonight. I was really impressed with his level. Hits the ball really flat, really aggressive.

"I knew tonight was going to be tough. With my physical state going into the match, I knew that I was going to be really hindered with my serve.

"But just seeing the fans line up for four, five hours, just the amount of people that were there supporting me, it was hard to throw the towel in. I tried to do the best I could with the state I was in physically. Obviously heartbreaking because I wanted to play well. I feel like my level's there."

Kyrgois also played in a tournament in Brisbane in January, but it was clear that he was struggling to get his body to respond to the demands of playing competitive tennis.

The Aussie has played just a handful of matches since his impressive 2022 season, with serious injuries derailing his ambitions.

Now he is set to make an appearance at a charity event ahead of next month's ATP Masters tournaments in Indian Wells.

"The 21st annual Desert Smash, the world-renowned celebrity tennis event, is set to take place March 3-4, 2025, at the recently renovated La Quinta Resort & Club," read a statement from tournament organisers.

"This high-profile charity event, known for bringing together Hollywood stars and professional tennis players, will once again raise funds for a meaningful cause.

"This year's beneficiary is the WTA Foundation's Global Women's Health Fund in support of UNICEF, with proceeds helping provide essential prenatal vitamins to women in low- and middle-income countries.

"The initiative is part of the Women Change the Game campaign, launched with the Gates Foundation, aiming to improve global maternal and child health.

"Over the past two decades, Desert Smash has raised millions for charity, with past participants including Charlize Theron, Will Ferrell, Serena Williams, Novak Djokovic, and more.

"The 2025 lineup already features top tennis stars like Aryna Sabalenka, Nick Kyrgios, Naomi Osaka, Ons Jabeur, Barbora Krejc­kova, Alexander Zverev, and Holger Rune, with more names to be announced."

The presence of Kyrgios in California days before the Indian Wells ATP 1000 tournament will fuel speculation that he may ask for a wildcard into one of the most prestigious events in the men's game.

His current ranking of 1097 highlights how far he has slipped down the rankings over the last couple of years, but he remains a big presence in the game and may be considered for a wildcard by Indian Wells Tournament Director Tommy Haas if he puts in a request.

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